University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


^ 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


GUIDE  TO  HEALTH, 

BEING   AN 

EXPOSITION  OF  THE  PRINCIPLES 

OF    THE 

THOMSONIAN  SYSTEM  OF  PRACTICE, 

AND    THEIR 

MODE  OF  APPLICATION 

IN    THE 

CURE  OF  EVERY  FORM  OF  DISEASE; 

EMBRACING    A.    CONCISE    VIEW    OF 
THE  VARIOUS  THEORIES  OF  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  PRACTICE 

BY  BENJAMIN  COLBY. 

Third  Edition,  enlarged  and  revised. 
Let  us  strip  our  profession  of  every  thing  that  looks  like  mystery. — RUSH. 


MILFORD,   N.H. 
JOHN  BURNS. 


1846. 


PREFACE 

TO  THE  FOURTH  EDITION, 

THREE  editions  of  this  work  are  already  before  the  public. 
The  rapid  sale  of  more  than  five  thousand  copies,  and  the  constant 
and  increasing  demand,  from  every  quarter,  for  a  still  further  ex- 
tension of  it,  has  induced  the  proprietor  to  issue  the  fourth  edition. 
He  cannot  but  be  grateful  to  a  discriminating  community  for  the 
liberal  patronage  thus  already  bestowed.  And  at  the  same  time, 
he  cherishes  the  hope  and  belief  that  he  is  deserving,  in  some 
measure,  of  this  consideration,  in  that  he  is  delivering  the  world 
from  the  use  of  the  dangerous  and  deadly  drugs  to  which  the  dis- 
eased have  so  long  and  so  vainly  resorted,  and  directing  them  to 
milder  and  far  more  effectual  measures  for  the  recovery  and 
preservation  of  health. 

No  pains  have  been  spared  to  render  this  book  what  its  title 
indicates,  —  A  Guide  to  Health.  A  careful  attention  to  its  prin- 
ciples and  directions  will  enable  almost  any  family  to  combat 
successfully  all  the  ordinary  forms  of  disease,  without  being 
poisoned  by  the  fearful  [remedies]  of  the  druggist,  or  plagued  by 
the  bills  of  those  who  prescribe  or  administer  them. 

It  would  be  easy  to  add  a  long  array  of  valuable  names,  as 
recommendations  to  this  treatise.  But  such  a  course  (common 
and  laudable  as  it  is)  the  proprietor  deems  unnecessary.  If  it 
were  not  a  recommendation  in  itself,  surely  the  rapid  sale  of  so 
many  thousand  copies,  and  the  constant  demand  from  every  di- 
rection for  more,  would  argue  a  blindness  on  the  part  of  the 
public,  into  which  no  one  believes  it  has  yet  fallen.  It  is  there- 
fore trusted,  as  heretofore,  on  its  own  merits  —  in  the  confident 
belief  that  it  deserves  all  the  consideration  it  has  yet  received,  and 
with  the  expectation  that  it  will  continue  to  receive  that  patron- 
age which  it  has  already  earned  for  itself. 

THE   PROPRIETOR. 
MILFOBD,  N.  H.,  May,  1848. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845, 

By  BENJAMIN  COLBY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  New  Hampshire. 


U-l 
PREFACE. 


IN  presenting  to  the  public  this  little  volume,  advocating  aud 
explaining  a  system  of  Medical  Practice,  diverse  from  the  popu- 
lar systems  of  the  day — a  system  against  which  there  exists 
much  unfounded,  deep-rooted  prejudice — prejudice,  not  based 
on  a  knowledge  of  its  principles,  on  a  trial  of  its  remedial 
agents,  but  on  the  false  and  ridiculous  reports  in  circulation 
against  it ;  a  brief  history  of  the  circumstances  and  motives 
that  led  to  its  publication,  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader. 

Having  spent  a  large  proportion  of  the  last  fifteen  years  of 
my  life  in  examining  the  different  medical  theories,  and  observ- 
ing the  results  of  those  theories  carried  out  in  practice,  I  arrived 
at  conclusions  that  were  to  me  startling — that  were  painful  to 
contemplate — that  could  not  fail  to  inspire  in  every  benevolent 
man  a  fixed  determination  to  wage  an  uncompromising  war 
against  systems  productive  of  so  much  sorrow,  misery,  and 
death. 

The  evidences  brought  to  bear  upon  my  mind,  in  the  testi 
mony  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  faculty,  statesmen,  and  phi  ' 
losophers,  and  my  own  personal  experience  and  observation, 
compelled  me  to  believe,  although  very  reluctantly,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  regard  I  had  for  those  of  my  friends  who  were 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  that  the  science  of  medi 
cine,  as  taught  in  the  schools  of  physic,  and  as  practised  from 
the  time  of  Paracelsus  until  the  present,  was  a  series  of  blind 
experiments  with  the  most  deadly  poisons ;  the  effect  of  which 
is  now  felt  by  millions  of  its  unhappy  victims,  while  millions 
more  sleep  beneath  the  clods  of  the  valley,  cut  off  in  the  vigor 
of  youth  and  strength  of  manhood,  by  these  poisons.  I  do  not 
feel  responsible  for  a  belief,  that  the  force  of  evidence  urges 
upon  me,  any  more  than  I  should  for  falling  to  the  ground  from 
a  height,  when  all  intercepting  objects  are  removed.  Justice 
to  my  fellow-men  demands  of  me  that  I  should  fearlessly  express 


•IV  PREFACE. 

iny  views,  and  I  shall  not  demur.  It  is  ray  candid  opinion,  and 
that  opinion  has  not  been  formed  hastily,  that  nine  tenths  of  all 
the  medical  practice  of  the  nineteenth  century,  including  a 
portion,  but  by  no  means  an  equal  portion,  of  all  the  different 
systems,  is  not  based  on  scientific  principles,  or  benevolence 
and  truth,  but  on  cupidity,  avarice,  and  a  desire  for  fame,  on 
the  one  part,  and  ignorance  and  misplaced  confidence,  on  the 
other.  Remove  these  pillars,  and  the  gilded  temple  called 
medical  science,  that  medical  authors  have  been  propping  up 
for  four  thousand  years — the  material  of  which  it  is  composed 
not  being  sufficiently  strong  to  sustain  its  own  weight — would 
fall  to  the  ground  with  as  much  certainty  as  did  the  edifice 
from  which  Samson,  with  giant's  strength,  removed  the  pillars, 

One  quarter  part  of  nearly  all  the  newspapers  throughout  the 
country  is  filled  with  flaming  advertisements  of  quack  nos- 
trums— the  most  of  which  are  prepared  without  any  regard  to 
scientific  principles  or  adaptedness  to  cure  disease ;  for  which 
millions  of  dollars  are  annually  paid,  and  not  one  in  a  hundred 
receives  any  permanent  benefit  therefrom. 

The  editor  of  the  Portland  Tribune  gives  the  following  as  the 
origin  of  that  celebrated  medicine,  Brandreth's  Pills  : — "  A  few 
years  ago,  a  young  Englishman,  by  the  name  of  Anson,  was  an 
under-servant  in  a  large  pill  establishment  in  London,  where 
he  received  trifling  pay ;  but  he  managed  to  lay  by  sufficient 
funds  to  bring  him  to  this  country.  He  arrived  at  New  York ; 
called  himself  Dr.  Brandreth,  from  London ;  said  he  was  a 
grandson  of  a  distinguished  doctor  by  that  name,  who  died 
some  years  since.  He  was  so  extremely  ignorant,  that  he 
wrote  his  name,  or  scratched  it  rather,  "  Dr.  Benjamin  Bran- 
dreth, M.  D."  He  hired  an  office,  made  pills,  advertised  them 
pretty  freely,  and  now  they  are  all  over  the  country.  By  such 
empiricism,  this  individual,  whose  real  name  is  Anson,  has  ob- 
tained the  cognomen  of  "  Prince  of  Quacks,"  and  has  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  fortune,  while  not  one  in  a  thousand  who  has 
taken  his  pills,  has  any  doubts  of  his  being  a  regular  physician. 
Such  is  the  success  of  quackery ;  and  in  this  manner  are  the 
American  people  gulled,  when  if  known,  they  themselves,  of 
brown  bread  and  aloes,  could  make  a  better  pill.  Mr.  A.,  alias 
Dr.  B.,  in  the  course  of  time  opened  a  shop  in  Philadelphia  for 
the  sale  of  his  medicine,  and  appointed  a  man  by  the  name  of 


PREFACE.  v 

Wright  as  his  sole  agent.  In  a  short  time  the  Doctor  and  he 
quarreled,  and  had  a  newspaper  controversy ;  the  result  of  which 
was,  Mr.  -W.  set  up  for  himself,  made  a  new  pill,  or  rather  gave 
a  new  name  to  an  old  one,  calling  it  the  "  Indian  Purgative 
Pill,"  advertised  it  freely,  employed  agents,  &c.,  and  now  it  is 
used  pretty  extensively  as  an  INDIAN  medicine,  when  probably 
not  a  son  of  the  forest  knows  of  its  existence. 

In  a  similar  way  nearly  all  the  medicines  advertised  so  exten- 
sively, and  recommended  so  extravagantly  for  their  intrinsic 
virtues,  were  first  brought  into  existence.  Should  the  thousand 
pills  of  different  names,  daily  vended  in  this  country,  and  swaK 
lowed  by  the  dozen,  be  analyzed  by  the  nicest  process,  they 
would  be  found  to  contain  nearly  the  same  ingredients. 
s  "The  'Matchless  Sanative,'  said  to  be  a  German  invention, 
was  sold  in  very  small  vials,  at  the  moderate  price  of  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents,  as  a  certain  cure  for  the  consumption.  It  wag 
nothing  more,  we  believe,  than  sweetened  water,  and  yet  hun- 
dreds were  induced  to  buy  it,  because  its  price  was  so  exorbi- 
tant, presuming  by  this  that  its  virtues  were  rare  j  and  many  a 
poor  widow  was  drained  of  her  last  farthing  to  obtain  this 
worthless  stuff.  Even  the  Sanative,  in  its  conspicuous  advertise- 
ments, was  not  lacking  in  lengthy  recommendations  of  its  super- 
lative virtues — throwing  all  other  medicines  far  into  the  shade, 
i  Had  regular  physicians  adopted  a  system  of  practice  in  ac- 
cordance with  nature,  reason,  and  common  sense,  they  would 
have  retained  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  no  medicine 
could  have  been  successfully  introduced,  unless  sanctioned  by 
themselves.  But  the  misery  and  death  occasioned  by  their 
practice  having  been  too  apparent  to  be  misunderstood,  and 
failing  to  cure  in  many  curable  cases,  many  have  lost  all  confi- 
dence in  them,  and  are  ready  to  catch  at  any  medicine  that  ia 
recommended  for  their  complaints.  Men  with  large  acquisi- 
tiveness and  small  conscientiousness,  almost  entirely  destitute 
of  medical  knowledge,  taking  advantage  of  this  state  of  things, 
have  flooded  the  country  with  their  pretended  cure-alls,  that 
they  themselves  would  never  think  of  using  if  afflicted  with 
the  same  complaints  for  which  they  are  so  confidently  recom- 
mended. Benevolence,  conscientiousness  and  knowledge  may 
have  induced  many  to  prepare  and  sell  secret  medicines,  but 
avarice  and  ignorance  many  more. 


\l  PREFACE. 

The  only  way  to  prevent  quackery  is  to  diffuse  a  knowledge 
of  medicine  among  the  people,  and  also  to  point  out  to  them 
the  proper  course  to  pursue  to  prevent  being  sick.  This  I  have 
made  a  feeble  effort  to  do  in  this  little  work,  reserving  nothing 
for  future  emolument,  for  which  I  expect  to  be  ridiculed  by 
those  it  is  designed  to  benefit,  and  persecuted  by  those  whose 
craft  is  in  danger;  begging  the  pardon  of  the  "literati"  for 
entering  the  authors'  ranks  with  so  few  of  the  requisite  qualifi- 
cations, but  asking  no  favors  of  the  medical  faculty,  scientific 
as  they  may  be ;  for  if  I  have  not  succeeded  in  proving  the 
Thomsonian  system  true,  it  cannot  possibly  come  farther  from 
the  truth  than  their  own. 

I  have  endeavored  to  present  plain,  simple  facts  in  a  plain, 
simple  manner,  so  as  to  be  easily  understood  by  all.  The  tech- 
nicalities of  medical  works  are  left  out,  or  explained  in  a  glos- 
sary, where  any  medical  word  used  in  this  work  may  be  found, 
with  its  meaning.  I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Drs. 
Thomson,  Curtis,  and  others,  for  the  principles  herein  contain- 
ed, especially  to  Dr.  Curtis,  Professor  of  the  Medical  Institute 
at  Cincinnati,  who  has  done  more  than  any  other  man  to  pre- 
sent the  Thomsonian  system  to  the  world  in  a  receivable  shape. 

This  little  work  is  designed  to  be,  as  its  name  declares,  a 
Guide  to  Health.  Not  a  guide  for  a  few  to  enable  them  to  get 
rich  by  selling  advice  and  medicine  to  the  many ;  but  a  guide 
to  all  to  enable  them  to  avoid  becoming  the  victims  of  the  ava- 
rice and  duplicity  of  physicians.  Many  of  them,  to  be  sure, 
take  a  philanthropic  and  noble  course,  consulting  always  the 
interest  of  those  who  place  confidence  in  them.  But  common 
observation  leads  me  to  think  that  the  large  majority  of  physi- 
cians consult  their  own  interests  first,  in  doing  which  they  are 
not  "  sinners  above  all  others,"  as  the  common  motto  is,  Let 
every  man  look  out  for  himself.  Therefore,  if  every  man  was 
his  own  physician,  the  interest  of  physician  and  patient  would 
be  identified.  Those  who  make  the  practice  of  medicine  a 
source  of  gair  will  ridicule  the  idea  of  every  man  being  his 
own  physician.  >3o  have  priests  ridiculed  the  idea  of  letting 
every  man  read..the  Bible,  and  judge  for  himself  of  the  impor- 
tant truths  therein  contained.  As  well  might  the  village  baker 
ridicule  the  idea  of  the  good  housewife  making  her  own  bread  ; 
alleging  that  it  required  a.loog  course  of  &•.  "$L  to  make  bread, 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


and  the  people  must  not  only  buy  all  their  bread  of  them  at  an 
exorbitant  price,  but  pay  them  a  fee  for  telling  them  what  kind 
they  must  eat,  and  how  much.  The  preparation  and  use  of 
medicine  to  cure  disease,  requires  no  more  science  than  the 
preparation  and  use  of  bread. 

Every  head  of  a  family  ought  to  understand  the  medicinal 
properties  of  a  sufficient  number  of  roots  and  plants  to  cure  any 
disease  that  might  occur  in  his  or  her  family,  and  teach  their 
children  the  same.  This  is  in  accordance  with  the  declaration 
of  the  learned  and  philanthropic,  and  justly  celebrated  Rush. 
He  says,  "  Let  us  strip  our  profession  of  every  thing  that  looks 
like  mystery  and  imposition,  and  clothe  medical  knowledge  in 
a  dress  so  simple  and  intelligible,  that  it  may  become  a  part  of 
academical  education  in  all  seminaries  of  learning.  Truth  is 
simple  on  all  subjects ;  and  upon  those  essential  to  the  happi- 
ness of  mankind,  it  is  obvious  to  the  meanest  capacities.  There 
is  no  man  so  simple,  that  cannot  be  taught  to  cultivate  grain, 
and  no  woman  who  cannot  be  taught  to  make  it  into  bread. 
And  shall  the  means  of  preserving  our  health,  by  the  cultiva- 
tion and  preparation  of  proper  aliments,  be  so  intelligible,  and 
yet  the  means  of  restoring  it  when  lost,  so  abstruse,  that  we 
must  take  years  of  study  to  discover  and  apply  them  ?  To 
suppose  this,  is  to  call  in  question  the  goodness  of  the  Deity,  and 
to  believe  that  he  acts  without  system  and  unity  in  his  work. 
Surgical  operations  and  diseases  that  rarely  occur,  may  require 
professional  aid ;  but  the  knowledge  necessary  for  these  pur- 
poses is  soon  acquired ;  and  two  or  three  persons,  separated 
from  other  pursuits,  would  be  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands 
of  a  city  containing  forty  thousand  people." 

The  imposition  practised  by  medical  men  in  writing  their 
prescriptions  in  Latin,  and  the  evils  resulting  from  it  by  the 
ignorance  or  carelessness  of  apothecaries  or  their  clerks,  who 
may  know  nothing  of  the  language  in  which  the  prescription  is 
written — the  mistakes  of  whom  have  destroyed  thousands  of 
lives,  are  too  obvious  to  be  misunderstood.  The  following  nar- 
ration of  a  circumstance  which  actually  occurred  in  Boston  a 
few  years  since,  taken  from  a  paper  published  at  the  time,  illus- 
trates the  folly  of  such  a  course  : — 

"  A  respectable  physician  of  this  city  lately  wrote  a  prescrip- 
tion of  certain  articles  to  be  procured  at  an  apothecary's,  and  at 


vjii  PREFACE. 

the  bottom  were  the  words,  '  Lac  Bovis.'  A  young  lady  took 
the  prescription  to  an  apothecary,  who  did  up  three  of  the  arti- 
cles, and  very  gravely  told  her  he  had  not  the  last-mentioned 
article,  Lac  Bovis.  She  took  the  recipe  to  another  shop,  and 
was  there  equally  unsuccessful — and  upon  her  inquiring  whe- 
ther it  was  a  scarce  or  costly  article,  she  was  informed  he  could 
find  no  such  article  on  his  book,  and  he  did  not  know  where  it 
might  be  procured,  or  what  the  price  of  it  might  be.  On  re- 
turning home,  and  acquainting  her  friends  with  her  ill  success, 
she  was  not  a  little  amused  wrhen  told  she  had  been  inquiring  at 
apothecaries'  shops  for  cow's  milk!" 

With  these  preliminary  remarks  we  submit  this  volume  to  the 
people,  trusting  it  may  lead  many  a  bewildered  victim  of  disease 
into  the  paths  of  health. 

Nashua,  JV.  #.,  1844. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 

THE  rapid  sale  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work,  of  one  thou- 
sand copies,  has  induced  the  author  to  revise,  correct,  and 
enlarge  it,  and  by  the  advice  of  those  who  were  competent  to 
judge  of  its  merits,  to  get  it  stereotyped ;  this  will  enable  him 
to  get  out  new  editions  as  fast  as  the  sale  may  require,  making 
such  improvements  as  future  investigation  may  lead  him  to 
think  proper.  Those  alone  who  have  undertaken  the  task, 
know  the  difficulty  of  explaining  and  clearly  illustrating  the 
science  of  medicine,  in  as  few  words  as  must  necessarily  be 
used,  to  treat  on  so  many  branches  of  the  subject,  as  are  treated 
on  in  this  small  work ;  but  his  object  is  to  get  out  a  work, 
the  price  of  which  shall  not  be  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  any 
person's  possessing  it  who  may  wish,  and  thus  diffuse  more 
generally  the  important  knowledge  therein  contained. 

Concord,  April  10, 1845. 


CONTENTS. 


Abscess 133 

Abortion 131 

Adhesive  plaster 110 

Ague  and  fever 130 

Ague  in  the  face 132 

Air 51 

Anti-dyspeptic  powder ....  1 08 
Anti-spasmodic  tincture ...  1 1 0 

Anti:dyspeptic  pills 116 

Anti-emetic   drops .  — 117 

Antimony 28 

Apoplexy,  (see  FITS.) 

Asthma 1 33 

Astringents 84 

Balmony 89 

Bayberry 84 

Bathing 53 

Barberry 91 

Bethroot. 85 

Brief  review  of  the  differ- 
ent theories  of  medicine .  .15 
Bilious  colic,  (see  COLIC.) 
Boerhaave,  testimony  of.  ...17 

Bitter  root 92 

Barton,  Prof.,  testimony  of.  .24 
Bleeding  from  the  nose . . .  .134 

from  the  lungs 1 34 

from  the  stomach 134 

Blistering 29 

Bigelow,  Dr.  Jacob,  testi- 
mony   15 

Brown,  Dr.  William,  testi- 
mony   19 

Black  cohosh 101 

Biles 133 

Breasts  inflamed 161 

Boiler,  portable  steam 123 

Boneset 79 


Blood-letting 29 

remarks  on,  by  Dr.  J. 

J.  Steele..29 

by  Dr.  Reid 29 

by  Dr.  Beach 29 

by  Dr.  Lobstein 30 

by  Dr.  Thatcher 30 

by  Magendie 31 

Bones  broken,  (see  FRAC- 
TURES.) 

Bread  of  life,  (see  STIMU- 
LATING CONSERVE,) 1J4 

Bruises 134 

Burns  or  scalds 135 

Butternut 93 

syrup 93 

cordial 93 

Calomel 22 

remarks  on,  by  Dr.  Pow- 
ell  22 

by  Prof.  Waterhouse.24 

by  Prof.  Barton 24 

by  Dr.  Chapman. . . .  23 

by  Dr.  Graham 23 

by  Dr.  Robinson  ....  23 

by  Dr.  Cox 25 

Hymn  on 27 

Canada  snake  root 83 

Cancer 135 

«  plaster 120 

Canker,  compound  for 107 

Canker  rash 156 

Cayenne 80 

tincture  of 114 

Caustic    vegetable,    (see 
CANCER.) 

Catarrh  in  the  head 143 

snuff  for 120 


CONTENTS. 


Chicken  pox 126 

Cholera  morbus 140 

Clothing 50 

Cold  water  cure 36 

remarks  on,  by  H.  C. 

Wright 37 

Crawley,  or  fe.ver  root 77 

Coolwort 95 

Comfrey 100 

Camomile 100 

Crane's  bill 101 

Colic 136 

Composition  powder 104 

Compounds 103 

Conserve,  stimulating  ....  114 

Consumption 137 

Convulsions 141 

Corns 141 

Cough  powder 112 

drops 113 

Cholera  syrup Ill 

Course  of  medicine 122 

directions  for 125 

Croup 141 

Compound  tinct.  of  myrrh.  114 

Chilblains 144 

Coughs  and  colds 144 

Costiveness 144 

Curtis,    Dr.,   remarks    on 

midwifery  . .  179 

remarks  on  lobelia 74 

Dandelion 95 

Delirium  tremens 145 

Demulcents 99 

Diarrhoea 140 

syrup 122 

powders 105 

Diuretics 94 

Diuretic  syrup 115 

Directions  for  a  course  of 

medicine 125 

Disease 60 

the  unity  of 62 

causes  of 63 

effects  of 67 

treatment  of. 69 

different  forms  of 127 

Diet 49 

Pislocations 146 

Dose  of  medicine 104 


Directions    for    gathering 
and  preparing  medicine.  102 

Diabetes 145 

Dropsy 146 

Dyspepsia 147 

Dysentery 140 

syrup Ill 

Drowning,  suspended  ani- 
mation from 163 

Ear-ache 148 

Elm  poultice 116 

Elm  salve 109 

Emetic  powder 112 

administering  of 126 

Enemas 122 

Epilepsy,  (see  FITS.) 

Erysipelas 14S 

Essences 115 

Effects    of   the    remedies 
used     by    the     medical 

faculty 22 

Evan  root 101 

Exercise 51 

Expectorants 96 

Felons 149 

Female  restorative .106 

powders 107 

syrup 106 

tonic  powders 119 

Fever 125 

Fever  and  ague 130 

Fits 149 

Flowers,  when  to  collect..  102 

Fractures 146 

Food  and  drink 55 

Fundament,  falling  of 149 

Fluor  albus 150 

Galen's  theory 16 

Ginger 81 

Golden  seal 88 

Gout 150 

Gravel 150 

Gum  arabic 102 

myrrh 91 

Health 47 

remarks    on,  by    Dr. 

Courtney..  55 

O.  S.  Fowler 58 

High  cranberry 102 

Healing  salve  , 110 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


Head-ache  snuff 116 

Hernia 158 

Hemlock 87 

Hippocrates'  theory 16 

Hoffman's  theory 17 

Hot  drops 114 

Homoaopathic  system 33 

Hydropathy 36 

Hysterics,  (see  FITS.) 

Hops 101 

Horsemint 102 

Hull's,  Dr.,  bilious  physic. 119 

Indigestion 147 

Inflammation,  internal....  151 

external 152 

Injections 122 

powders  for 109 

Itch  ointment 120 

Indian  hemp 1 01 

Jaundice 152 

Juniper 95 

King's  evil,  (see  SCROFULA.) 

Lady's  slipper 97 

Laxatives 92 

Leaves,  when  to  collect..  .102 

Liniment,  stimulating 112 

Lobelia  inflata 73 

remarks    on,  by    Dr. 

Curtis...  74 

by  Prof.  Tully 75 

by  Dr.  Waterhouse .  .76 

by  Dr.  Hersey 76 

by  Dr.  Peckham 76 

tincture  of 113 

administering  of 126 

pills 108 

Lock-jaw,  (see  FITS.) 

Lungs,  consumption  of. . .  .137 

Medicine,  science  of 13 

remarks  on,  by  Dr.  J. 

Graham ...  15 

by  Dr.  Bigelow 15 

by  Jefferson 18 

by  Dr.  Brown 19 

by  Dr.  Whiting 21 

by  Dr.  Waterhouse. .21 

by  Dr.  Rush 20 

dose  of 104 

Magendie  on  blood-letting.  .31 

Materia  Medica 71 

2 


Measles 152 

Mercury 22 

Mineral  poisons 20 

Mayweed 100 

Meadow-fern 102 

ointment 121 

Mother's  cordial 107 

Menstruation  obstructed . .  154 

profuse 154 

Midwifery 167 

remarks    on,  by    Dr. 

Beach . .  169 
by  Mrs.  Arnold..  ..171 
general  directions  in..  171 
previous  treatment  in.  171 
treatment  during  labor  171 
treatment  after  delivery!74 

of  after-pains 174 

of  costiveness 175 

of  flooding 175 

of  milk  leg 175 

of  sore  nipples 175 

of  tying   and   cutting 

the  navel  string. . . .  173 
management  of     the 

placenta 1 74 

tongue-tied  children . .  1 76 
rupture  in  children . . .  176 

still-born  infants 175 

Mumps 153 

Nervines 97 

Nipples,  sore 175 

Ointment  for  piles 115 

itch 120 

meadow-fern 121 

Opium 28 

Obstructed  menstruation ..  154 

Ox  gall 102 

Palsy  or  paralysis 154 

Pennyroyal 82 

Piles 155 

Pile  ointment ,  115 

Pills  No.  1 108 

No.  2 108 

Phthisic,  (see  ASTHMA.) 

Plaster,  adhesive 110 

strengthening. ...... .110 

cancer 120 

Prickly  ash 81 

Poplar ,,,..,.83 


Xll 


CONTESTS. 


Pleurisy  root 96 

Polypus  powder 118 

Poultice,  elm 116 

Putrid  sore  throat 156 

Pyrola 90 

Pleurisy 155 

Profuse  menstruation 154 

Queen  of  the  meadow 94 

Raspberry  leaves 86 

Restorative,  female 106 

Rheumatism 157 

'Rupture 158 

Relaxants 73 

Salve,  healing 110 

f        elder 109 

Science  of  medicine 13 

Scald  head 158 

Scalds,  (see  BURNS.) 

Scarlet  fever 156 

Scrofula 159 

Scullcap 98 

Seeds,  when  to  collect 102 

Skunk  cabbage 96 

Slippery  elm 99 

Small  pox 160 

Smelling  salts 116 

Snake  head,  (see  BALMONY.) 

Snuff,  head-ache 116 

polypus 118 

catarrh 120 

Spiced  bitters 105 

Stimulants 79 

Sumach 85 

Saffron 101 

Solomon's  seal 101 

Spikenard 101 

Stimulating  liniment 112 

Smith's,  Dr.  Elisha,  anti- 

I     mercurial  syrup 121 

Sudorific  powders 119 

Stimulating  conserve 114 

St.  Anthony's  fire 148 

St.  Vitus'  dance 162 

Stone 150 

Stoppage   in  the  bowels, 
*      (see  COLIC.) 
Strengthening  plaster 110 


Sore  or  inflamed  breast  . .  .161 

Syrup,  dysentery Ill 

female  strengthening.  106 

worm Ill 

diuretic 115 

butternut 93 

for  purifying  the  bjood  118 

anti-mercurial 121 

Synopsis   of   the   medical 
properties  of  plants  used 

occasionally 100 

Spruce  beer 118 

Suspended  animation 163 

Shingles 162 

Testimony  of  regular  phy- 
sicians in  favor  of  female 

midwives 177 

Thomsonian  system 40 

t  testimony  of  old  school 
physicians  in  favor  of  42 

Thorough  wort 79 

Tic  doloureux 164 

Tincture  of  myrrh 113 

of  lobelia 113 

of  Cayenne 114 

of  fir  balsam ....115 

Treatment  of  disease 69 

different  forms 127 

children 1 76 

Tonics 88 

Tootn-ache  drops 117 

Unicorn 90 

Uvaursi 102 

Vapor  bath 123 

Vegetable     caustic,     (see 

CANCER.) 
Washington's  treatment...  31 

White   pond  lily 86 

Witch  hazel 87 

Wintergreen 90 

Worm  syrup Ill 

Wine  bitters 117 

Whitlows 166 

White  swelling 166 

Wounds 164 

Whooping  cough 165 

Yellow  dock 101 


GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 


PART  I. 

— — —  * 

CHAPTER  I 

THE    SCIENCE    OF   MEDICINE. 

WHAT  is  it  ?  What  are  the  principles  on  which 
it  is  founded  ?  and  what  are  the  results  of  those 
principles,  carried  out  in  practice?  Science  is 
knowledge.  The  science  of  medicine  is  a  know- 
ledge of  the  art  of  preventing  and  curing  disease. 
Where  can  this  knowledge  be  obtained  ?  Should 
we  heap  together  all  that  has  been  written  on  the 
subject  of  medicine,  it  would  form  a  mountain, 
the  base  of  which  would  spread  out  over  the 
earth,  and  its  summit  penetrate  the  clouds.  In 
perusing  these  works,  we  are  astonished  and  dis- 
appointed :  astonished,  that  such  a  combination 
of  talent,  erudition,  and  persevering  research, should 
arrive  at  conclusions  so  visionary  and  unsatisfac- 
tory ;  disappointed,  in  not  finding  the  knowledge 
of  a  remedy  for  the  cure  of  disease.  We  must 
give  these  authors  the  credit  of  making  untiring 
effort,  and  bestowing  incessant  labor  upon  the 
subject,  but  like  the  man  who  attempted  to  cross 
a  pond  frozen  over,  during  a  violent  snow-storm ; 
the  snow  flew  so  thick,  that  he  soon  lost  sight 
of  either  shore,  and  after  wandering  many  hours, 


14  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

he  found  himself  on  the  same  shore  from  which 
he  started.  So  with  medical  authors  :  having  no 
compass,  and  the  visionary  theories  of  others  fly- 
ing so  thick  about  them,  involved  them  in  dark- 
ness, and  they  wandered  in  uncertainty  and  doubt, 
until  they  arrived  at  the  same  point  from  which 
they  started,  having  found  no  facts  on  which  to 
base  medical  science. 

The  reason  is  obvious.  Truth  is  plain  and 
simple.  God,  in  his  wisdom,  has  adapted  impor- 
tant truths  to  the  capacity  of  feeble  intellects. — 
"  has  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  wise."  While  the  learned  and  wise 
in  the  literary  lore  of  medical  universities  were 
groping  amidst  this  darkness,  uncertainty  and 
doubt,  in  search  of  facts  on  which  to  base  a  cor- 
rect theory — each  fully  conscious  that  the  discov- 
ery of  such  facts  would  enable  him  to  write  his 
name  high  on  the  temple  of  fame — Dr.  THOMSON, 
an  illiterate  farmer,  stumbled  on  the  prize.  Rude 
and  uncultivated  though  he  was,  he  discovered 
facts  which  are  destined  to  overturn  the  visionary 
theories  of  his  predecessors.  With  nothing  more 
than  a  general  knowledge  of  the  structure  of  the 
human  body  and  the  functions  of  its  organs,  he, 
by  experience  alone,  dictated  by  common  sense 
and  reason,  obtained  the  knowledge  of  a  safe  and 
efficient  method  of  treating  disease,  that  the  expe- 
rience of  thousands,  for  forty  years,  has  confirmed. 
We  shall  endeavor  to  prove  that  the  system  of 
practice  introduced  by  Dr.  Thomson,  and  improved 
by  many  of  his  coadjutors,  has  more  claim  to  the 
appellation  of  "  the  science  of  medicine^  than  any 
other  system  that  has  been  yet  introduced.  Im- 
perfect though  it  may  be,  its  success  in  the  cure 
of  disease  stands  unrivalled. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  15 

-•^iiMMsim 

CHAPTER  II. 

BRIEF   REVIEW    OF    DIFFERENT    THEORIES    OF   MEDICINE 

If  medical  works  have  been  wanting  in  facts, 
they  have  abounded  in  theories. 

Dr.  James  Graham,  the  celebrated  Medico- 
Electrician,  of  London,  says  of  medicine,  "  It  hath 
been  very  rich  in  theory,  but  poor,  very  poor,  in 
the  practical  application  of  it.'7 

Dr.  Jacob  Bigelow,  Professor  in  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, says  in  his  annual  address  before  the  Med- 
ical Society,  in  1836,  "  The  premature  death  of 
medical  men  brings  with  it  the  humiliating  con- 
clusion, that  while  other  sciences  have  been  car- 
ried forward  within  our  own  time,  and  almost 
under  our  own  eyes,  to  a  degree  of  unprecedented 
advancement,  medicine,  in  regard  to  some  of  its 
professed  and  important  objects,  (the  cure  of  dis- 
ease,) is  still  an  INEFFECTUAL  SPECULATION." 

It  is  almost  universally  believed  that  the  science 
of  medicine,  as  taught  in  the  schools  of  physic, 
and  practised  by  the  regular  faculty,  is  based  on 
established  principles, — principles  that  have  been 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation,  that 
are  as  demonstrable  as  those  of  mathematics,  and 
that  a  man  who  has  studied  three  years,  is  pre- 
pared to  practise  SCIENTIFICALLY.  If  this  were  the 
case,  it  would  save  us  the  necessity  of  writing  this 
little  volume,  as  the  literary  world  groans  under 
the  weight  of  medical  works  that  have  been 
thrown  upon  it — the  errors  of  which,  each  suc- 
ceeding author  has  proved  to  be  as  numerous  as 
its  pages.  $? ' 

At  what  age  of  the  world  medicine  for  the  cure 
of  disease  was  introduced,  history  does  not  ia- 
2*  . 


IQ  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

form  us.  Frequent  reference  is  made  in  the  bible 
to  leaves  for  the  healing  of  the  nations,  the  plant 
of  renown,  and  to  various  other  botanic  medi- 
cines ;  but  we  have  no  account,  in  that  book,  of 
mineral  poisons  ever  being  used  to  cure  disease. 
Such  an  inconsistency,  sanctioned  by  it,  would 
have  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  infidel  a  more  pow- 
erful argument,  against  its  truth  than  now  exists. 

At  whatever  age  disease  may  have  made  its 
appearance,  the  first  man  whose  writings  on  medi- 
cine have  descended  to  posterity  in  any  thing 
like  a  respectable  shape,  is  HIPPOCRATES,  born  in 
the  island  of  Cos,  about  460  years  before  Christ. 
Supposing  himself  descended  from  the  ancient 
and  fabled  Esculapius,  he  devoted  his  mind  assid- 
uously to  the  healing  art.  He  examined  atten- 
tively the  opinions  of  others,  thought  and  judged 
for  himself,  and  admitted  only  those  principles  that 
to  him  seemed  founded  on  reason.  As  a  theory 
of  life,  he  advanced  the  doctrine  that  the  body  is 
endowed  with  a  semi-intelligent  principle  capable 
of  applying  to  its  own  use  whatever  is  congenial 
with  it,  and  calculated  to  improve  and  restore  it ; 
and  of  rejecting  and  expelling  whatever  is  nox- 
ious, or  tends  to  the  generation  of  disease. 

He  believed  in  the  conservative  and  restorative 
power  of  nature,  when  its  laws  were  strictly  fol- 
lowed, or  aided  by  suitable  remedies.  Hippocra- 
tes studied  diligently,  and  almost  exclusively,  the 
great  book  of  nature,  instead  of  the  visionary 
theories  of  men,  and  probably  adopted  a  more 
correct  theory,  and  safe  and  successful  practice, 
than  any  who  succeeded  him,  until  the  time  of 
Thomson. 

CLAUDIUS  GALANUS,  or  GALEN,  was  bom  in  Per- 
gamos,  in  Asia  Minor,  A.  D,  131.  He  depended 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  17 

on  innocuous  vegetables ;  sometimes  simple,  gen- 
erally very  much  compounded ;  and  his  practice 
was  so  successful  as  in  many  instances  to  be  as- 
cribed to  magic.  The  theory  of  Galen  was  the 
acknowledged  theory  of  medicine  until  about  the 
time  of 

PARACELSUS,  who  was  born  in  Switzerland,  in 
1493.  He  appeared  as  a  reformer  of  the  system, 
of  Galen,  rejecting  his  safe  botanic  treatment,  and 
administering,  with  a  bold  and  reckless  hand, 
mercury,  antimony,  and  opium. 

Notwithstanding  thousands  were  destroyed  by 
this  reckless  quack,  his  practice  has  been  handed 
down  to  the  present  time,  undergoing  various 
changes  and  modifications.  Says  Professor  Wa- 
terhouse,  "  He  (Paracelsus)  was  ignorant,  vain, 
and  profligate,  and  after  living  the  life  of  a  vaga- 
bond, he  died  a  confirmed  sot.  He  studied  mys- 
tery, and  wrapped  up  his  knowledge  in  terms  of 
his  own  invention,  so  as  to  keep  his  knowledge 
confined  to  himself  and  a  few  chosen  followers." 
It  appears  by  Prof.  Waterhouse,  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, that  mercury,  antimony,  and  opium  were 
introduced  into  common  practice  by  Paracelsus, 
who  was  the  chief  of  quacks,  which  remedies  con- 
tinue to  the  present  day  to  be  the  most  potent  and 
commonly  used  by  the  faculty. 

STAHL,  a  native  of  Anspach,  rejected  all  the 
notions  of  his  predecessors,  and  has  the  credit  of 
undoing  all  that  had  been  done  before  him. 

HOFFMAN,  his  cotemporary  and  friend,  supposed 
life  dwelt  somehow  or  other  in  the  nervous  system. 

BOERHAAVE,  a  native  of  Holland,  selected  from 
all  the  preceding  writings  whatever  he  deemed 
valuable,  preferring  Hippocrates  among  the  an- 
cients, and  Sydenham  among  the  moderns.  This 


18  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

celebrated  physician  and  scholar  ordered  in  his 
will,  that  all  his  books  and  manuscripts  should  be 
burned,  one  large  volume  with  silver  clasps  ex- 
cepted.  The  physicians  flocked  to  Leyden,  en- 
treating his  executors  to  destroy  his  will.  The 
effects  were  sold.  A  German  count,  convinced 
that  the  great  gilt  book  contained  the  whole  arca- 
num of  physic,  bought  it  for  ten  thousand  guil- 
ders. It  was  all  blank  except  the  first  page,  on 
,which  was  written, — "Keep  the  head  cool,  the 
\feet  warm,  the  body  open,  and  reject  all  physi- 
cians" How  noble  the  course  of  this  justly  cele- 
brated physician  !  After  thoroughly  investigating 
the  theories  of  all  his  predecessors,  and  writing 
out  a  theory  of  his  own,  which,  when  he  came  to 
practise,  he  found  so  uncertain  and  dangerous, 
that  he  would  not  leave  it,  with  his  sanction,  to 
entail  misery  and  death  on  future  generations. 
He  therefore  gave  his  dying  advice  to  the  world, 
with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  value  of  all  the  sys- 
tems of  medicine  that  had  preceded  him,  to  use  a 
few  simple  medicines,  and  reject  all  physicians. 
Had  this  advice,  given  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
been  regarded  by  the  world,  what  a  vast  amount 
of  suffering  and  human  life  would  have  been 
saved  !  Its  benefits  would  have  been  incalcula- 
ble. A  monument  should  have  been  erected  to  his 
memory,  on  which  should  have  been  inscribed  in 
letters  of  gold,  "  HERE  LIES  AN  HONEST  MAN,  THE 

NOBLEST  WORK  OF  GoD." 

I  Succeeding  Boerhaave,  were  Haller,  Cullen, 
Hunter,  Bostock,  Brown,  Rush,  and  Chapman,  of 
modern  times ;  the  history  of  whom  may  be  told 
in  the  language  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  the  illustri- 
ous statesman  and  philosopher.  In  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Wistar,  he  says,  "  I  have  lived  myself  to  see 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  19 

the  disciples  of  Hoffman,  Boerhaave,  Cullen,  and 
Brown  succeed  one  another  like  the  shifting  fig- 
ures of  the  magic  lantern ;  and  their  fancies,  like 
the  dressers  of  the  annual  doll  babies  from  Paris, 
becoming  from  the  novelty  the  vogue  of  the  day, 
each  yielding  to  the  next  novelty  its  ephemeral 
favors.  The  patient,  treated  on  the  fashionable 
theory,  sometimes  gets  well,  in  spite  of  the  medi- 
cine ;  the  medicine  therefore  cured  him,  and  the 
doctor  receives  new  courage  to  proceed  in  his  bold 
experiments  on  the  lives  of  his  fellow-creatures. 
I  believe,"  continues  Mr.  Jefferson,  "  we  may 
safely  affirm,  that  the  presumptuous  band  of  medi- 
cal tyros,  let  loose  upon  the  world,  destroy  more 
human  life  in  one  year,  than  all  the  Robin  Hoods, 
Cartouches,  and  Macbeths  do  in  a  century.  It  is 
in  this  part  of  medicine  I  wish  to  see  a  reform,  an 
abandonment  of  hypothesis  for  sober  facts,  the 
highest  degree  of  value  set  upon  clinical  observa- 
tion, the  least  on  visionary  theories." 

Dr.  WILLIAM  BROWN,  who  studied  under  the 
famous  Dr.  William  Cullen,  lived  in  his  family, 
and  lectured  on  his  system,  says  in  the  preface  to 
his  own  works,  "  The  author  of  this  work  has 
spent  more  than  twenty  years  in  learning,  teach- 
ing and  scrutinizing  every  part  of  medicine.  The 
first  five  years  passed  away  in  hearing  others,  and 
studying  what  I  had  heard,  implicitly  believing 
it,  and  entering  upon  the  possession  as  a  rich 
inheritance.  The  next  five,  I  was  employed  in 
explaining  and  refining  the  several  particulars, 
and  bestowing  on  them  a  nicer  polish.  During 
the  five  succeeding  years,  nothing  having  pros- 
pered according  to  my  satisfaction,  I  grew  indif- 
ferent to  the  subject;  and  with  many  eminent 
men.  and  even  the  vulgar,  began  to  deplore  the 


«JO  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

healing  art,  as  altogether  uncertain  and  incompre- 
hensible. All  this  time  passed  away  without  the 
acquisition  of  any  advantage,  and  without  that 
which,  of  all  things,  is  most  agreeable  to  the 
mind — the  light  of  truth ;  and  so  great  a  portion 
of  the  short  and  perishable  life  of  man  was  totally 
lost !  Here  I  wasr  at  this  period,  in  the  situation 
of  a  traveller  in  an  unknown  country,  who,  after 
losing  every  trace  of  his  way,  wanders  in  the 
shades  of  night." 

Dr.  Brown's  experience  probably  differs  in  only 
one  particular,  from  that  of  every  student  of  the 
theories  of  medicine,  and  that  is,  he  spent  seven- 
teen years  longer  than  is  customary,  to  obtain 
authority  to  kill  according  to  law. 

Dr.  RUSH  says,  in  his  lectures  in  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  "  I  am  insensibly  led  to  make 
an  apology  for  the  instability  of  the  theories  and 
practices  of  physic.  Those  physicians  generally 
become  most  eminent,  who  soonest  emancipate 
themselves  from  the  tyranny  of  the  schools  of 
physic.  Our  want  of  success  is  owing  to  the  fol- 
lowing causes, — 1st,  Our  ignorance  of  disease,  of 
which  dissections  daily  convince  us.  2,  Our  ig- 
norance of  a  suitable  remedy,  having  frequent 
occasion  to  blush  at  our  prescriptions." 

Had  not  Rush  so  soon  fallen  a  victim  to  his 
own  favorite  practice  of  bleeding,  he  would  un- 
questionably have  laid  a  foundation  for  medical 
reformation,  that  would  ere  this  have  swept  away 
those  false  theories  with  the  besom  of  destruction. 
He  says,  "  We  have  assisted  in  multiplying  dis- 
eases ;  we  have  done  more — we  have  increased 
their  mortality.  I  will  beg  pardon  of  the  faculty 
for  acknowledging,  in  this  public  manner,  the 
weakness  of  their  profession."  He  then  speaks 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  21 

forth  in  the  dignity  of  his  manhood,  and  from  the 
honesty  of  his  heart,  "  I  am  pursuing  truth,  and 
am  indifferent  where  I  am  led,  if  she  only  is  my 
leader."  A  man  of  so  much  benevolence  and 
conscientiousness  as  the  venerable  Rush  could  not 
long  have  reconciled  his  acknowledgments  and 
practice. 

Dr.  L.  M.  WHITING,  in  a  dissertation  at  an  an- 
nual commencement  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  frankly 
acknowledges  that  "the  very  principles  upon 
which  most  of  the  theories  involving  medical 
questions  have  been  based,  were  never  established. 
They  are,  and  always  were,  false ;  consequently 
the  superstructures  built  upon  them,  were  as  the 
baseless  fabric  of  a  vision,  transient  in  their  exist- 
ence ;  passing  away  before  the  introduction  of 
new  doctrines  and  hypotheses,  like  dew  before  the 
morning  sun.  System  after  system  has  arisen, 
flourished,  and  been  forgotten,  in  rapid  and  melan- 
choly succession,  until  the  whole  field  is  strewed 
with  the  disjointed  materials  in  perfect  chaos  ;  and 
amongst  the  rubbish,  the  philosophic  mind  may 
search  for  ages,  without  being  able  to  glean  from 
hardly  one  solitary  well-established  fact.'1 

Dr.  BENJAMIN  WATERHOUSE,  after  lecturing  in 
Harvard  University  twenty  years,  retired,  saying 
of  all  he  had  been  so  long  and  zealously  teaching, 
"  I  am  sick  of  learned  quackery." 

We  have  now  clearly  shown,  by  incontestible 
evidence,  that  the  science  of  medicine,  as  taught 
in  the  schools  of  physic,  is  based  on  no  established 
principles,  and  therefore  must  be  false  in  theory, 
and  destructive  in  practice.  Can  the  object  of 
medical  science  be  accomplished  by  these  theo- 
ries, while  all  admit  that  object  to  be  the  preven- 
tion and  cure  of  disease  ? 


tgj  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

CHAPTER  III. 

THE    EFFECT    OF    THE    REMEDIES    USED  BY  THE    MEDICAL 
FACULTY. 

Notwithstanding  the  darkness,  uncertainty  and 
doubt  in  which  medical  science  is  involved — its 
incapability  of  answering  the  desired  object  of 
such  a  science  ;  if  its  remedial  agents  were  inno- 
cent, there  would  be  much  less  occasion  for  a  re- 
form than  there  now  is.  Should  we  see  a  blind 
man  armed  with  a  pistol,  shooting  into  a  group 
composed  of  friends  and  enemies,  should  we  not 
suppose  he  would  be  as  likely  to  kill  his  friends 
as  enemies  ?  Equally  as  liable  is  the  physician, 
armed  with  deadly  poison,  administered  without 
any  certain  criterion  to  guide  him  in  their  use,  to 
kill  nature  instead  of  disease,  or  kill  more  than  he 
cures. 

The  most  common  remedies  used  by  the  facul- 
ty are,  mercury  in  some  of  its  forms,  antimony, 
opium,  bleeding,  and  blistering. 

MERCURY,  or  the  ore  which  contains  it,  abounds 
in  China,  Hungary,  Spain,  France,  and  South 
America  j  and  of  all  the  metals  used  as  a  medicine, 
is  the  most  extensively  used — there  being  scarcely 
a  disease  against  which  some  of  its  preparations 
are  not  exhibited. 

CALOMEL,  a  preparation  of  mercury,  is  said  to  be 
the  Sampson  of  the  Materia  Medica,  and,  as  an- 
other has  expressed,  has  destroyed  more  Americans 
than  Sampson  did  of  the  Philistines. 

Dr.  POWELL,  formerly  professor  in  the  Medical 
College  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Wright 
of  Montpelier,  says,  "  It  is  to  be  hoped  the  time 
is  not  far  distant,  when  all  deleterious  poisons  will 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  33 

be  struck  from  our  Materia  Medica.  It  is  my 
opinion,  calomel  or  mercury  has  made  far  more 
disease  since  it  has  been  so  universally  exhibited, 
than  all  the  epidemics  of  the  country.  It  is  more 
than  ten  years  since  I  have  administered  a  dose 
of  it,  although  I  have  been  daily  in  the  practice 
of  physic,  and  I  am  sure  I  have  been  more  suc- 
cessful in  practice  than  when  I  made  use  of  it. 
The  last  dose  I  had  in  the  house,  I  gave  to  some 
rats,  and  it  as  radically  killed  them  as  arsenic." 

Dr.  Powell,  having  administered  calomel  for 
many  years,  could  not  have  been  mistaken  in  re- 
gard to  its  effects. 

Dr.  CHAPMAN,  Professor  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  after  speaking  of  the  extravagant 
use  of  calomel  at  the  South,  says,  "  He  who  for 
an  ordinary  cause  resigns  the  fate  of  his  patient  to 
mercury,  is  a  vile  enemy  to  the  sick ;  and  if  he  is 
tolerably  popular,  will,  in  one  successful  season, 
have  paved  the  way  for  the  business  of  life,  for  he 
has  enough  to  do  ever  afterwards,  to  stop  the 
mercurial  breach  of  the  constitutions  of  his  dilapi- 
dated patients." 

Dr.  GRAHAM,  of  the  University  of  Glasgow, 
says,  "  We  have  often  had  every  benevolent  feel- 
ing of  our  mind  called  into  painful  exercise,  upon 
viewing  patients,  already  exhausted  by  protracted 
illness,  groaning  under  accumulated  miseries  of  an 
active  course  of  mercury,  and  by  this  forever  de- 
prived of  perfect  restoration  ;  a  barbarous  practice, 
the  inconsistency,  folly  and  injury  of  which  no 
words  can  sufficiently  describe." 

Dr.  ROBERTSON,  of  Cincinnati,  says  in  his  lec- 
tures, "  It  is  astonishing,  and  will  remain  an  as- 
tonishment to  future  generations,  that  the  very 
rankest  poisons  are  the  greatest  remedies  now  in 
3 


24  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

use  in  the  world,  and  have  been  for  the  last  fifty 
years  past.  It  would  be  a  melancholy  tale,  could 
it  be  told  of  the  millions  who  have  perished 
through  this  practice." 

Prof.  WATERHOUSE  says,  "  When  calomel  is 
pushed  to  a  salivation,  it  delipidates,  if  we  may  so 
speak,  or  dissolves  the  human  fluids,  all  of  which 
are  made  of  globules  or  round  particles,  on  the 
crasis  of  which  depend  the  vital  energy  of  our 
bodies,  and  of  course  our  health  and  vigor.  After 
the  hazardous  process  of  salivation,  the  physician 
may,  perhaps,  be  able  to  say,  Now  I  have  so  far 
changed  the  morbid  state  of  the  patient,  that  his 
disease  is  conquered,  and  entirely  overcome  by  the 
powerful  operation  of  the  mercury.  But  then  in 
what  condition  does  he  find  the  sufferer  ?  His  teeth 
are  loosened,  his  joints  are  weakened,  his  healthy 
countenance  is  impaired,  his  voice  is  more  feeble, 
and  he  is  more  susceptible  of  cold,  and  a  damp 
state  of  the  weather.  His  original  disorder  is,  to 
be  sure,  overcome,  but  it  is  paying  a  great  price  for 
it.  Secret  history  conceals  from  public  notice  in- 
numerable victims  of  this  sort." 

Prof.  BARTON,  of  the  Medical  College  of  Louis- 
iana, says  of  the  tomato,  "  I  freely  wish  it  success, 
after  having  witnessed,  for  sixteen  years,  the  hor- 
rible ravages  committed  by  calomel." 

The  administration  of  calomel,  to  be  safe,  de- 
pends on  circumstances  beyond  the  knowledge 
of  the  prescriber  j  therefore,  he  who  administers  a 
dose  of  calomel,  under  any  circumstance,  strikes 
a  blow  in  the  dark,  the  result  of  which  will  be 
exhibited  too  late  to  be  remedied. 

In  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  medical  faculty 
to  keep  from  the  people  a  knowledge  of  the  effects 
of  mercury  upon  the  human  system,  which  effects 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  25 

they  had  heen  accustomed  to  attribute  to  a  chang* 
in  the  disease  ;  some  of  their  number,  having  too 
much  benevolence  longer  to  administer  the  disease- 
creating  poison,  have  laid  before  the  astonished 
calomel-eater  the  legitimate  results  of  its  use  ; 
leading  him  to  exclaim,  Is  it  so  ?  that  I  have  been 
so  long  duped  by  pretended  science — so  long 
swallowing  down  that  which  has  been  destroying 
my  constitution,  leaving  me  as  I  now  find  myself, 
but  a  wreck  of  the  man  I  once  was !  Is  it  so  ?  that 
man  is  so  depraved,  or  so  blinded  as  to  deal  out  to 
his  fellow-man  deadly  poisons,  to  increase  his  dis- 
ease and  suffering,  when  his  punishment  for  the 
transgression  of  the  laws  of  nature  is  already 
greater  than  he  can  bear  ?  These  facts,  coming  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  people,  have  led  many  to 
reject  those  physicians  who  give  calomel  or  mer- 
cury ;  physicians,  therefore,  find  it  for  their  interest 
to  deny  that  they  use  it  except  in  extreme  cases. 
But  if,  from  this  moment,  the  use  of  calomel 
should  be  entirely  abandoned,  the  suffering  that 
must  necessarily  follow  the  use  of  what  has  been 
already  administered  will  be  incalculable. 

Dr.  Cox,  a  member  of  the  medical  faculty  of 
Cincinnati,  who  has  recently  renounced  the  old 
school  practice,  thus  writes  in  a  communication  to 
the  editor  of  the  Medical  Reformer:  "I  could 
enumerate  at  least  fifty  cases  of  poison  and  death 
by  CALOMEL,  that  occurred  in  the  practice  of  physi- 
cians who  were  practising  in  the  region  of  country 
where  I  practised  for  the  last  seven  years  previous 
to  my  coming  to  the  city,  many  of  whom  were 
sent  to  their  graves  mutilated,  disfigured,  and  par- 
tially decomposed  before  death  released  them  from 
their  sufferings."  Suppose  each  physician  of  the 
thousands  who  are  practising  in  the  United  States 


26  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

after  the  old  school  routine  of  giving  calomel,  were 
to  hand  a  list  of  the  cases  of  death  produced 
by  that  mineral  poison,  that  occurred  within  his 
knowledge  and  region  of  labor,  what  a  stupendous 
and  alarming  amount  of  mortality  it  would  make ! 
In  view  of  these  facts,  Dr.  Cox  comes  to  the  fol- 
lowing conclusion,  and  how  could  an  honest  man 
have  come  to  a  different  conclusion?  "Lest  I 
should  farther  give  countenance  to  a  species  of 
legal  and  wholesale  murder  by  the  use  of  it,  I 
hereby  notify  my  friends,  that  from  this  22d  day 
of  November,  A.  D.  1844,  I  forthwith  and  forever 
relinquish  the  use  of  mercury,  in  any  of  its  pre- 
parations, as  a  medical  agent."  He  says  he  has 
found  the  simple  plants  of  nature's  garden  far  more 
safe  and  efficacious  than  mercury ;  he  therefore 
goes  for  a  reform  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  and 
hopes  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  it  will  be 
an  offence  against  the  statute  law,  as  well  as  the 
moral  and  physical,  to  administer  mercury  as  a 
remedial  agent.  There  are,  no  doubt,  thousands 
of  other  physicians,  who  are  constantly  prompted 
by  an  enlightened  conscience  to  abandon  the  use 
of  poisons,  and  declare  to  the*  world  that  there  is 
mischief  in  them.  Even  so  mote  it  be. 

"  The  following  Hymn  on  Calomel,"  says 
Smith,  "  is  to  be  sung  on  certain  occasions ;  as 
the  following :  1st.  When  any  one  or  more  are 
convinced  of  its  dangerous  and  ruinous  nature, 
when  applied  under  the  name  of  medicine,  so  as 
never  to  use  it.  "2d.  When  any  one  has  taken  it 
until  his  teeth  are  loose,  rotten,  or  have  come  out. 
3d.  When  it  has  so  cankered  their  mouths,  that 
they  cannot  eat  their  food.  4th.  When  it  has 
swelled  their  tongues  out  of  their  mouths,  so  that 
they  could  not  shut  their  mouth  for  some  time. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  27 

6th.  When  it  has  caused  blindness,  and  partial  or 
total  loss  of  sight.  6th.  When  it  has  caused  large 
sores  on  their  legs,  feet,  arms,  or  any  part  of  the 
body.  7th.  When  it  has  caused  palsy,  epilepsy, 
cramp,  or  any  other  distressing  complaint.  When 
cured  of  any  or  all  these  difficulties,  this  is  to  be 
sung  by  all  such,  and  as  many  others  as  may  join 
heartily  in  putting  down  calomel.  At  the  close  of  i 
the  hymn  let  some  one  of  the  singers  repeat  aloud 
1 — Amen. 

(Tune,  Old  "Hundred. — Very  grave.} 

Physicians  of  the  highest  rank 
(To  pay  their  fees,  we  need  a  bank) 
Combine  all  wisdom,  art  and  skill, 
Science  and  sense,  in  calomel. 

Howe'er  their  patients  may  complain 
Of  head,  or  heart,  or  nerve,  or  vein, 
Of  fever  high,  or  parch,  or  swell, 
The  remedy  is  calomel. 

When  Mr.  A.  or  B.  is  sick — 
"  Go  fetch  the  doctor,  and  be  quick"— 
The  doctor  comes,  with  much  good  will, 
But  ne'er  forgets  his  calomel. 

He  takes  his  patient  by  the  hand,    . 
And  compliments  him  as  a  friend ; 
He  sets  awhile  his  pulse  to  feel, 
And  then  takes  out  his  calomel. 

He  then  turns  to  the  patient's  wife, 
"  Have  you  clean  paper,  spoon  and  knife  ? 
I  think  your  husband  might  do  well 
To  take  a  dose  of  calomel." 

He  then  deals  out  the  precious  grains — 
"  This,  ma'am,  I'm  sure  will  ease  his  pains ; 
Once  in  three  hours,  at  sound  of  bell, 
Give  him  a  dose  of  calomel." 

He  leaves  his  patient  in  her  care, 
And  bids  good-by  with  graceful  air. 
In  hopes  bad  humors  to  expel, 
She  freely  gives  the  calomel. 
3* 


28  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

The  man  grows  worse,  quite  fast  indeed — 
"  Go  call  for  counsel — ride  with  speed" — 
The  counsel  comes,  like  post  with  mail, 
Doubling  the  dose  of  calomel. 

The  man  in  death  begins  to  groan — 
The  fatal  job  for  him  is  done ; 
His  soul  is  winged  for  heaven  or  hell — 
A  sacrifice  to  calomel. 

Physicians  of  my  former  choice, 
Receive  my  counsel  and  advice ; 
Be  not  offended  though  I  tell 
The  dire  effects  of  calomel. 

And  when  I  must  resign  my  breath, 
Pray  let  me  die  a  natural  death, 
And  bid  you  all  a  long  farewell, 
Without  one  dose  of  calomel. 

ANTIMONY,  says  Hooper,  is  a  medicine  of  the 
greatest  power  of  any  known  substance  j  a  quan- 
tity too  minute  to  be  sensible  in  the  most  delicate 
balance,  is  capable  of  producing  violent  effect. 
Tartar  emetic  is  a  preparation  of  antimony,  com- 
monly used  by  the  faculty  as  an  emetic.  A  Mr. 
Deane,  of  Portland,  Me.,  was  poisonepl  to  death  a 
few  years  since,  by  taking  a  dose  of  tartar  emetic 
through  mistake  j  had  it  been  administered  by  a 
physician,  his  death  would  have  been  attributed 
to  some  fatal  disease.  It  is  said  that  Basil  Valen- 
tine, a  German  monk,  gave  it  to  some  hogs,  which, 
after  purging  them  very  much,  fattened ;  and 
thinking  it  might  produce  the  same  effect  on  his 
brother  monks,  gave  them  each  a  dose,  who  all 
died  in  the  experiment ;  hence  the  word  is  derived 
from  two  Greek  words,  meaning  destructive  to 
monks. 

OPIUM  is  obtained  from  Turkey  and  East  India. 
It  is  the  most  common  article  used  by  those  who 
wish  to  shuffle  off  this  mortal  coil,  to  accomplish 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  99 

their  object.  In  the  form  of  paregoric  it  is  used 
to  quiet  children,  and  thousands  have  no  doubt 
been  quieted  beyond  the  power  of  being  disturbed. 
It  does  not  remove  the  cause  of  disease,  but  relieves 
pain  by  benumbing  sensibility. 

BLISTERING. — This  practice,  though  not  so  fatal 
as  bleeding,  is  evidently  as  inconsistent  and  more 
tormenting.  In  some  isolated  cases,  blisters  may 
produce  an  apparent  good  effect,  but  the  amount 
of  injury  is  so  much  greater  than  the  amount  of 
good  accruing  from  their  use,  that  they  may  well 
be  dispensed  with. 

BLEEDING. — Blood-letting  was  introduced  as  a 
frequent  remedial  agent,  by  Sydenham,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  16th  century ;  since  which  time 
it  has  consigned  millions  to  the  tomb,  and  cut  off 
the  fond  hopes  of  many  a  tender  parent,  affection- 
ate husband  and  wife,  and  dutiful  child. 

Dr.  J.  J.  STEELE,  a  member  of  the  medical 
faculty  of  New  York,  says,  "  Bleeding  in  every 
case,  both  of  health  and  disease,  according  to  the 
amount  taken,  destroys  the  balance  of  circulation, 
and  robs  the  system  of  its  most  valuable  treasure 
and  support.  This  balance  must  be  restored  and 
this  treasure  replaced,  before  a  healthful  action  can 
be  complete  in  the  system." 

Dr.  REID  says,  "  If  the  employment  of  the  lan- 
cet were  abolished  altogether,  it  would  perhaps 
save  annually  a  greater  number  of  lives,  than  in 
any  one  year  the  sword  has  ever  destroyed." 

Dr.  BEACH,  a  member  of  the  Medical  Society 
of  New  York,  says,  "  Among  the  various  means 
made  use  of  to  restore  the  sick  to  health,  there  is 
none  so  inconsistent  and  absurd  as  blood-letting. 
Those  who  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  victims 
to  disease,  were  doomed  to  suffer  the  most  extra- 


30  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

vagant  effusion  of  blood,  and  were  soon  hurried 
to  an  untimely  grave." 

Dr.  LOBSTEIN,  late  physician  of  the  hospital  and 
army  of  France,  reprobates,  in  strong  terms,  the 
use  of  the  lancet.  He  says,  "  During  my  residence 
of  fourteen  years  past,  in  this  happy  land  of  liberty 
and  independence — the  United  States — I  am  bound 
to  say  that  in  all  my  practice  as  a  physician  of 
twenty-seven  years,  never  have  I  seen  in  any  part 
of  Europe  such  extravagance  of  blood-letting  as  I 
have  seen  in  this  country.  It  is  productive  of  the 
most  serious  and  fatal  effects — a  cruel  practice — a 
scourge  to  humanity.  How  many  thousands  of 
our  fellow- creatures  are  sent  by  it  to  an  untimely 
grave  ?  How  many  parents  are  deprived  of  their 
lovely  children?  How  many  husbands  of  their 
wives?  How  many  wives  of  their  husbands? 
Without  blood  there  is  no  heat — no  life  in  the 
system.  In  the  blood  is  the  life.  He  who  takes 
blood  from  a  patient,  takes  not  only  an  organ  of 
life,  but  a  part  of  life  itself." 

This  testimony  of  Prof.  Lobstein  is  deserving 
the  consideration  of  every  individual,  on  account 
of  his  high  standing  in  the  medical  profession, 
and  his  opportunity  of  judging  from  experience 
and  observation  of  the  effects  of  blood-letting. 

Dr.  THATCHER,  a  celebrated  medical  author, 
says,  "  We  have  no  infallible  index  to  direct  us  in 
the  use  of  the  lancet.  The  state  of  the  pulse  is 
often  ambiguous  and  deceptive.  A  precipitate 
decision  is  fraught  with  danger,  AND  A  MISTAKE 
MAY  BE  CERTAIN  DEATH."  Here  is  a  tacit  acknow- 
ledgment that  the  most  discriminating  and  cautious 
physician  cannot  decide  when  bleeding  is  safe, 
and  he  has  no  certain  criterion  by  which  to  decide, 
whether  bleeding  will  relieve  his  patient — place 


.      A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  31 

him  beyond  the  reach  of  a  cure,  or  immediately 
destroy  life.  Well  may  such  a  science  of  medi- 
cine be  called  the  science  of  guessing. 

Think  of  man  within  the  short  space  of  twenty- 
four  hours  being  deprived  of  eighty  or  ninety 
ounces  of  blood,  taking  three  portions  of  calomel, 
five  or  six  grains  of  tartar  emetic,  and  blisters 
applied  to  the  extremities  and  the  throat.  Such 
was  the  treatment  of  the  illustrious  Washington  ; 
of  him  who  was  first  in  war,  first  in  peace,  and 
first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen.  To  have 
resisted  the  fatal  operation  of  such  herculean 
remedies,  one  would  imagine  this  venerable  old 
man  should  have  retained  the  vigor  of  his  earliest 
youth. 

Says  Magendie,  an  eminent  French  rphysiolo- 
gist,  "  I  assert,  then,  loudly,  and  fear  not  to  affirm 
it,  that  blood-letting  induces,  both  in  the  blood 
itself  and  in  our  tissues  certain  modifications  and 
pathological  phenomena  which  resemble,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  those  we  have  seen  developed  in  ani- 
mals deprived  of  atmospheric  oxygen,  or  drink, 
and  of  solid  food.  "^  ou  shall  have  the  material 
proof  of  the  fact.  Here  are  three  glasses  contain- 
ing blood  drawn  from  a  dog  on  three  different 
occasions,  at  intervals  of  two  days.  The  animal 
was  in  good  health,  and  I  took  care  to  supply  him 
with  abundance  of  nourishing  food.  In  the  first 
glass  you  see  the  serum  and  clot  are  in  just  pro- 
portions to  each  other.  The  latter,  which  is  per- 
fectly coagulated,  forms  about  four  fifths  of  the 
entire  mass.  This  specimen  of  blood,  consequent- 
ly, appears  to  possess  the  desirable  qualities.  Now 
turn  your  attention  to  the  second  glass.  The 
animal  was  still  well  fed  when  its  contents  were 
drawn,  and  yet  you  perceive  an  evident  increase 


32  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

in  the  quantity  of  serum.  The  clot  forms,  at  the 
most,  only  two  thirds  of  the  whole.  But  here  is 
the  produce  of  the  third  venesection.  Although 
the  animal's  diet  remained  unchanged,  we  find  a 
still  greater  difference.  Not  only  is  the  proportion 
of  serum  more  considerable,  but  its  color  is 
changed.  It  has  acquired  a  reddish  yellow  tinge, 
owing  to  the  commencing  solution  of  the  globular 
substance." 

If  it  was  a  fact,  that  the  science  of  medicine 
that  teaches  the  doctrine,  that  the  most  powerful 
poisons  are  the  best  medicines — that  drawing  from 
man  his  heart's  blood  is  the  best  way  to  restore 
him  to  health  when  sick,  is  based  on  the  immuta- 
ble principles  of  truth,  and  proved  itself  true  by 
the  practice,  then  we  should  be  bound  to  admit  its 
principles,  however  inconsistent  they  might  ap- 
pear. But  if  tli eye  is  a  shade  of  doubt  resting 
upon  our  minds,  let  us  rather  trust  to  the  unassist- 
ed and  undisturbed  powers  of  nature,  than  to 
remedies  that  require  the  banishment  of  reason 
from  her  throne,  before  a  thinking  man  can  con- 
sistently use  them.  Give  a  sick  man  poison  that 
we  have  positive  evidence  will  destroy  the  life  of 
a  well  man,  to  cure  him  ?  Take  from  a  feeble 
man  his  blood,  on  which  his  little  remaining 
strength  depends,  to  strengthen  him?  Does  it 
appear  reasonable,  or  does  it  carry  with  it  the  evi- 
dence of  its  truth,  by  immediately  .curing  the  sick, 
or  strengthening  the  weak  ? 

There  is  not,  in  my  opinion,  and  I  am  not  alone 
in  that  opinion,  to  be  found,  in  all  the  superstition 
and  ignorance  of  this  or  any  previous  age,  a  more 
complete  inadaptedness  of  means  to  ends,  than  the 
old  school  system  of  medical  practice  to  cure 
disease,  As  consistently  might  we  attempt  to 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  33 

heat  an  oven  with  ice,  put  out  a  fire  with  alcohol, 
or  fatten  a  horse  with  grindstones  or  shingle  nails. 

It  is  now  the  wonder  of  the  more  enlightened 
of  the  present  generation,  how  the  belief  in  witch- 
craft could  have  obtained  among  the  most  learned 
of  the  16th  century.  So  it  will  be  the  wonder 
of  future  generations,  that  their  forefathers  of  the 
19th  century  should  be  so  hoodwinked,  as  to 
swallow  down  deadly  poisons,  be  bled,  blistered, 
and  physicked ;  sacrificing  their  own  common 
sense,  for  the  pretensions  of  a  class  of  men,  whose 
gain  depended  on  the  ignorance  of  the  people  of 
the  result  of  their  remedies. 

Are  there  not,  besides,  a  sufficient  number  of 
influences  brought  to  bear  upon  mankind  to  drag 
them  down  to  the  grave  ?  Is  not  alcohol  slaying 
its  thousands  ?  war  its  millions  ?  and  the  trans- 
gression of  the  physical  laws  of  nature  in  food, 
exercise,  and  dress,  its  tens  of  millions?  Why, 
then,  should  Pandora's  box  be  opened  for  another 
outlet  for  human  life  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    HOMOEOPATHIC    SYSTEM. 

As  this  system  of  practice  is  different  in  many 
particulars  from  the  allopathic  or  old  school  sys- 
tem, and  is  gaining  the  attention  of  the  American 
people,  it  may  be  expected  that  we  should  give  it 
a  passing  notice. 

Dr.  Samuel  Hahnemann,  of  Germany,  the  au- 
thor of  this  system,  was  formerly  a  physician  of 
the  old  school,  and  was  said  to  be  a  man  of  talent 


34  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

and  learning.  Like  many  of  his  predecessors,  af- 
ter wandering  in  the  shades  of  night  for  many 
years  in  search  of  truth,  he  deplored  the  healing 
art  as  altogether  "  uncertain  and  incomprehensi- 
ble." He  saw  the  danger  of  striking  at  random 
with  such  deadly  weapons  as  mercury,  antimony, 
opium  &  Co.,  and  therefore  labored  to  prove  that 
the  ten  millionth  part  of  a  grain  of  calomel  was 
better  than  250  grains.  This  one  fact  he  has 
clearly  proved,  and  we  challenge  the  world  to  re- 
fute it,  that  the  patient  who  takes  in  finite ssimal 
doses  of  poison  will  recover  sooner,  and  be  less 
injured,  than  the  patient  who  takes  large  doses. 
Another  fact  can  as  easily  be  proved,  that  the  pa- 
tient who  takes  no  poison  does  better  than  either. 

The  views  entertained  by  Hahnemann  of  dis- 
ease and  the  method  of  cure,  are  original,  and  re- 
main yet  to  be  proved.  The  distinguishing  fea- 
tures of  his  system  appear  to  us  visionary,  and  the 
remedies  inefficient,  but  generally  harmless,  though 
not  always.  He  includes  in  his  Materia  Medica 
the  most  deadly  poisons,  given  in  such  small 
quantities,  however,  as  to  do  little  harm  or  good, 
but  sometimes  increased  so  as  to  produce  the  most 
alarming  effect.  Dr.  Beach,  of  New  York  city, 
says  he  was  called  to  a  distinguished  dentist  of 
that  city,  (Dr.  Burdell,)  who  was  taken  unwell, 
and  called  a  homoeopathic  physician  to  attend  him. 
He  requested  him  to  give  him  no  mercury ;  but 
contrary  to  his  express  desire,  he  gave  him  both 
mercury  and  arsenic ;  and  he  now  states  that  he 
has  been  injured,  particularly  by  the  latter.  He 
thinks  the  absorbents  have  taken  up  the  poison, 
and  that  it  has  settled  in  all  his  joints.  They  are 
now  swollen,  stiff,  and  contracted  j  and  he  is  una- 
ble to  walk.  So  indignant  does  he  feel  against 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  35 

the  practice,  that  he  proposes  to  caricature  it,  by 
exhibiting  two  rats,  one  in  a  healthy  state,  and 
the  other,  after  having  passed  through  the  ordeal 
of  taking  ratsbane  or  arsenic,  with  the  hair  off. 
The  fundamental  principle  is,  that  in  all  diseases 
we  are  to  use  a  medicine  in  small  doses  to  cure  a 
disease  that  will  produce  the  same  symptoms  as 
are  manifested  by  the  disease  we  wish  to  cure, 
and  that  a  medicine  can  be  made  to  operate  on  the 
particular  portion  of  the  system  designed  by  the 
prescribe!*,  without  effecting  any  other  portion. 

The  position  taken  by  the  advocates  of  Hahne- 
mann's  system  cannot  be  successfully  defended, 
there  "being  too  many  well-established  facts  in  con- 
trariety in  it.  But  however  much  the  old  school 
physicians  may  ridicule  this  system,  the  light  of 
truth  now  dawning  upon  the  world  will  show, 
that  the  consequences  of  their  system  (the  allo- 
pathic) are  too  serious  to  be  ridiculed.  While 
Hahnemann  may  divert  the  patient  with  his  grain 
of  calomel,  mixed  with  a  barrel  of  sugar,  and  a 
grain  of  the  compound  divided  into  innnitessimal 
doses,  requiring  him  to  regard  the  physical  laws 
of  his  nature  in  food,  exercise,  &c.,  allowing  na- 
ture all  her  power  to  contend  against  disease  ;  the 
old  school  physician  lifts  his  fatal  club  and  strikes 
at  random,  the  force  of  which  oftener  comes  on 
the  head  of  the  only  healing  principle  that  exists 
in  man,  termed  nature,  than  on  his  enemy,  dis- 
ease. Much  good,  therefore,  may  result  from  this 
system  of  practice,  in  the  present  benighted  state 
of  the  world  on  all  medical  subjects,  by  diverting 
the  patient  while  nature  effects  a  cure.  I 

A  large  majority  of  the  homoeopathic  physicians 
are  seceders  from  the  old  school,  and  condemn  in 
unqualified  terms  the  extravagant  use  of  poisons, 
4 


36  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

bleeding,  blistering,  and  physicking  ;  having  them- 
selves seen  enough  of  their  destructive  effects  to 
arouse  their  better  feelings,  and  lead  them  to  adopt 
a  system  more  in  accordance  with  humanity.  Al- 
though we  differ  from  them  in  theory  and  prac- 
tice, we  cannot  but  respect  them  for  the  uncom- 
promising stand  they  have  taken  against  the  per- 
nicious practice  in  which  they  themselves  were 
'once  engaged,  and  to  remove  which  they  have 
sacrificed  their  standing  with  the  medical  faculty, 
been  cast  out  from  their  society,  and  are  now  the 
objects  of  their  ridicule.  An  enlightened  com- 
munity will  do  them  justice,  which  is  aU,  we 
presume,  they  ask. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HYDROPATHY,    OR    THE    COLD    WATER    CURE. 

There  is  no  individual  who  appreciates  the 
value  of  cold  water,  both  as  the  most  natural  and 
healthy  drink  for  man  and  beast,  and  as  a  valuable 
remedial  agent,  than  we  do ;  but  we  are  not  pre- 
pared to  admit  that  it  will  accomplish  every  indi- 
cation in  the  cure  of  disease.  There  are  cases  in 
which  an  immediate  relief  cannot  be  obtained 
•without  the  use  of  some  medicine  besides  cold 
water.  We  think,  however,  it  may  be  success- 
fully applied  in  a  great  variety  of  cases  where 
there  is  sufficient  vitality  to  produce  reaction ; 
but  much  caution  is  necessary  in  its  application, 
or  serious  injury  might  accrue  from  its  indiscrim- 
inate use.  The  time  is  not  far  distant  when  the 
virtue  of  pure  cold  water  will  be  more  generally 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  37 

appreciated,  and  occupy  an  important  place  in  the 
consistent  physician's  Materia  Medica.  If  it  is  a 
fact  that  pure  water  will  accomplish  every  indica- 
tion in  the  cure  of  disease,  we  sincerely  pray  that 
the  time  may  speedily  come  when  the  fact  will 
be  known  to  the  world.  Many,  in  whose  judg- 
ment and  sincerity  we  have  much  confidence, 
thus  believe  ;  but  we  cannot  so  believe  until  we 
have  the  evidence.  We  intend  to  thoroughly 
investigate  the  subject,  and  shall  always  be  gov- 
erned in  our  theory  and  practice  by  the  light  we 
receive. 

A  hospital  has  been  recently  established  at 
Graeffenberg,  by  Vincent  Preissnitz,  who  makes 
no  pretensions  to  book  learning  or  a  knowledge 
of  medicine.  He  treats  all  forms  of  disease  with 
cold  water  alone,  internally  and  externally,  with 
a  success  that  is  perfectly  astonishing.  It  has 
been  stated  on  good-  authority  that  out  of  7600 
patients,  the  most  of  whom  had  applied  to  nearly 
every  other  source  for  relief,  he  has  lost  but  thirty- 
six. 

But  little  is  known  in  this  country  of  his  method 
of  applying  this  valuable  remedial  agent. 

Mr.  Henry  C.  Wright,  of  Philadelphia,  a  distin- 
guished anti-slavery  and  peace-lecturer,  has  been 
at  Graeffenberg,  and  entirely  cured  of  a  pulmonary 
disease :  he  writes  thus  to  the  editor  of  the  Libe- 
rator in  relation  to  the  Principal  of  the  hospital 
and  the  mode  of  cure : — 

"  It  requires  the  constant  exercise  of  a  desperate 
resolution  to  carry  on  the  cure  amid  such  snows  and 
ice.  With  such  a  temperature,  to  have  our  bodies 
packed  up,  twice  a  day,  in  a  sheet  wrung  out  of 
water,  whose  temperature  is  down  to  freezing — 
(last  evening,  the  sheet  in  which  I  was  packed, 


38  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

three  minutes  before  I  saw  spread  out  on  the  snow 
before  my  window,  frozen  stiff  as  ice) — to  lie  in 
that  wet  sheet  till  I  get  warm,  and  then  go  down 
into  a  bath-room,  often  full  of  snow  and  ice,  arid 
there  throw  all  off,  and  smoking,  plunge  into  that 
dreadful  bath,  and  stay  in  it  one  or  two  minutes — 
then  to  be  rubbed  dry,  and  have  a  long  wet  ban- 
dage tied  around  the  whole  body — then  dress,  and 
go  out  and  face  these  fierce,  howling  tempests, 
the  snow  all  blowing  into  your  eyes,  ears,  hair, 
neck,  and  bosom ;  and  then  to  have  to  sit  down 
in  cold  water,  and  there  sit  fifteen  minutes  at  a 
time — sure,  such  a  fearful  process  must  kill  or  cure. 
Strange  to  say,  not  one  here  seems  to  have  the 
least  fear  of  the  former.  It  kills  no  one — it  invi- 
gorates and  strengthens  all,  and  produces  a  pretty 
thorough  indignation  in  each  at  himself,  that  he 
should  ever  have  subjected  his  body  to  the  heal- 
ing process  generally  pursued  by  the  medical  fac- 
ulty. I  am  certain  that  the  process — though  so 
fearful  that  I  almost  catch  my  breath  and  shiver 
all  over  to  think  of  it — has  done  me  great  good. 

"Four  days  ago,  a  woman  who  had  taken  cold 
during  the  day,  and  was  not  aware  of  the  enemy 
lurking  in  her,  was  seized  in  the  night  with  a  most 
violent  fever.  I  saw  her  in  the  morning,  and  she 
looked  exactly  like  a  person  in  scarlet  fever.  A 
wet  sheet  was  at  once  wrapped  about  her  whole 
body,  and  changed  and  wet  again  eveiy  twenty 
or  thirty  minutes.  This  was  pursued  about  twenty 
hours,  and  water  was  applied  in  other  ways.  The 
next  day,  I  saw  her  up  and  dressed,  and  looking 
as  well  and  eating  as  hearty  as  usual.  Not  a  par- 
ticle of  medicine  was  administered.  I  do  not 
believe  that  out  of  the  three  hundred  patients 
now  here,  or  out  of  several  thousands  that  have 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  39 

been  here,  there  is  one  who  has  the  least  fear  of 
fevers  or  colds.  Each  seems  to  feel  that,  so  far  as 
fevers  and  colds  are  concerned,  a  certain  remedy  is 
always  at  hand.  I  do  think  it  is  the  duty  of  all 
who  have  young  children,  to  learn  to  apply  this 
remedy.  How  many  diseases  in  little  children 
originate  in  cold ! 

"  Vincent  Preissnitz  is  certainly  an  extraordinary 
man — has  a  countenance  on  which  one  loves  to 
look — a  man  of  unpretending  simplicity,  of  quiet 
look  and  demeanor,  but  of  dauntless  resolution 
and  unyielding  firmness.  If  a  patient  puts  himself 
under  his  control,  and  he  assumes  the  responsibili- 
ty of  the  case,  the  patient  must  conform.  He  is 
a  man  of  very  limited  l&ok  learning — pretends  to 
none,  has  none — says  but  little  to  his  patients — 
has  no  theory  at  all — and  would  be  probably  inca- 
pable of  giving  a  written  account  of  his  system. 
Cold  air  and  cold  water  are  the  only  remedies  with 
which  he  attempts  to  combat  disease,  and  he  does 
not  pretend  that  he  can  cure  all  diseases  with 
these.  But  he  makes  his  patients  work  for  health. 
We  can't  sit  down  in  an  easy  chair,  or  stretch  out 
on  a  soft  sofa,  in  a  warm  room,  with  a  warm 
wrapper  gown  on,  and  take  little  nice  things,  and 
be  petted  and  comforted,  and  all  that !  No — we 
have  to  work,  work,  work — no  rest  day  or  night 
— have  but  little  heat,  and  no  comforts  at  all, 
(comfort  is  unknown  here,  in  any  thing.)  Our 
food  is  plentiful,  but  of  the  coarsest  kind — no  tea, 
no  coffee,  no  condiments  but  salt — milk  and  cold 
water  for  drink ;  dry,  stale  rye  bread,  butter,  boiled 
beef,  soup,  &c.,  for  food.  To  cut  our  rye  bread 
is  a  labor  of  no  small  magnitude,  and  each  must 
cut  for  himself ;  and  to  see  barons,  counts,  princes, 
cavaliers,  priests,  generals,  doctors,  and  what 
4* 


40  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

not,  all  mixed  up  together,  cutting  and  gnawing 
away  at  this  coarse  food,  like  hungry  Avolves — you 
would  suppose  that  the  genius  of  famine  had  come 
forth  from  the  desert  of  Sahara,  and  was  at  our 
table." 


:  CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    THOMSONIAN    SYSTEM. 

This  system  of  medical  practice,  unlike  most 
other  systems,  is  the  result  of  experience.  Facts 
were  first  established,  and  then  a  theory  based  on 
such  facts.  Without  facts  it  is  as  impossible  to 
establish  a  correct  theory  as  to  commence  building 
a  chimney  at  the  top.  There  would  be  no  diffi- 
culty if  the  first  brick  could  be  made  to  stick.  So 
in  medical  science.  Establish  one  important  fact, 
and  you  have  a  foundation  on  which  you  may 
build  with  safety. 

Dr.  Thomson,  the  author  of  the  system  that 
bears  his  name,  was  altogether  unacquainted  with 
the  prevailing  theories  of  medicine.  His  mind 
was  therefore  untrammeled.  If,  as  Dr.  Rush  has 
said,  those  physicians  become  most  eminent  who 
soonest  emancipate  themselves  from  the  tyranny 
of  the  schools  of  physic  ;  was  it  good  reason  why 
Dr.  Thomson  could  not  be  a  reformer,  because 
he  had  never  been  enslaved  by  these  theories  ?  He 
took  reason  and  common  sense  for  his  guide,  and 
established  every  principle  by  long  experience.  It 
was  the  inefficiency  of  the  regular  practice  that  in- 
duced him  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  subject  of 
medicine.  His  children  were  attacked  by  disease, 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  41 

a  regular  physician  was  called,  exhausted  his  skill, 
and  abandoned  them  to  the  cold  embrace  of  death. 
At  this  critical  period,  Dr.  Thomson  resolved  to 
call  into  exercise  his  own  judgment  in  the  use  of 
such  remedies  as  he  had  become  acquainted  with 
in  his  earlier  days.  Necessity  is  the  mother  of 
invention.  He  applied  these  remedies,  and  suc- 
ceeded beyond  his  most  sanguine  expectations. 
All  of  them  recovered  under  his  treatment,  besides 
his  companion  who  was  given  up  by  five  phy- 
sicians. 

In  this  simple  manner  originated  a  system  of 
medical  practice,  based  on  the  immutable  princi- 
ples of  truth,  that  has  saved  thousands  of  suffering 
human  beings  from  the  jaws  of  death,  who  had 
been  abandoned  by  the  medical  faculty  to  die.  It 
soon  became  a  topic  of  conversation,  in  the  region 
around,  that  Mr.  Thomson,  an  illiterate  farmer, 
had  cured  five  of  his  family  after  the  doctors  had 
given  them  up  to  die.  Soon  he  was  called  to  ad- 
minister to  his  neighbors  after  all  other  remedies 
failed,  and  such  universal  success  attended  his 
practice,  that  his  name  and  unexampled  success 
were  soon  known  abroad :  and  so  numerous  were 
his  calls  to  attend  the  sick,  that  he  was  under  the 
necessity  of  relinquishing  his  farm  and  devoting 
himself  exclusively  to  the  practice  of  medicine. 
We  now  find  the  illiterate  farmer  a  doctor — a 
graduate  of  the  school  of  nature,  with  almost  uni- 
versal success  for  his  diploma. 

Little  did  he  think,  when  he  yielded  to  the 
pressing  requests  of  the  suffering  and  dying  to 
administer  to  their  relief,  that  he  should  call  down 
upon  his  head  the  curses  and  denunciations  of  the 
whole  medical  faculty,  whose  craft  they  now  saw 
to  be  in  danger.  But  he  soon  fully  realized  that 


42  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

the  sentiment  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Harvey  was 
true — "  that  he  who  attempts  a  reform  in  medi- 
cine, runs  the  risk  of  the  sacrifice  of  his  life, 
reputation,  and  estate."  Such  was  his  success  in 
euring  the  incurables  of  the  faculty,  that  their  in- 
dignation was  aroused  against  him,  and  poured  on 
his  devoted  head  without  mercy.  Every  means 
within  their  power  were  used  to  destroy  him  and 
his  followers.  If  one  in  a  thousand  of  his  patients 
died,  although  they  might  have  been  incurable 
when  he  commenced  upon  them,  he  was  charged 
with  murder,  and  in  one  instance  was  prosecuted 
and  put  into  prison.  Notwithstanding  the  deep- 
rooted  prejudice,  and  time-honored  usages  of  the 
people,  and  the  hellish  animosity  and  unprecedent- 
ed persecution  of  a  profession  whose  influence  was 
almost  omnipotent,  Thomsonism  has  flourished 
and  progressed  until  its  remedial  agents  have  found 
admittance  into  nearly  every  hamlet  and  mansion 
in  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    TESTIMONY    OP    OLD    SCHOOL    PHYSICIANS    IN   ITS 
FAVOR. 

Notwithstanding  the  medical  faculty  as  a  body 
violently  persecuted  Dr.  Thomson,  and  ridiculed 
his  system  of  practice,  some  of  the  most  candid 
and  humane  had  the  magnanimity  to  express  their 
conviction  that  his  system  was  far  more  philo- 
sophical than  their  own.  i 

Among  the  first  and  most  unwavering  of  the 
friends  of  Dr.  Thomson,  was  Prof.  Waterhouse, 
of  Harvard  University.  He  says  in  a  letter  to 


A  GUIDE;  TO  HEALTH.  43 

the  editor  of  the  Boston  Courier,  "  I  remain  firm 
in  the  opinion  that  the  system  and  practice  of  Dr. 
Thomson  is  superior  to  any  now  extant ;  for  by 
his  remedies,  as  much  can  be  accomplished  in  three 
or  four  days,  as  can  be  done  by  the  regular  system 
in  as  many  weeks,  and  that  too  without  injuring 
the  patient." 

Dr.  THOMAS  HERSEY,  too,  of  Columbus,  Ohio, 
an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon,  who  was  sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  army  during  the  last 
war ;  after  thoroughly  investigating  Dr.  Thomson's 
system,  publicly  renounced  a  system  he  had  prac- 
tised forty  years,  and  adopted  the  more  philo- 
sophical system  of  Thomson.  He  says,  "  More 
than  forty  years  of  life  have  been  devoted  to  the 
ancient  or  regular  practice.  Ten  years  have  been 
spent  in  ascertaining  the  claims  of  the  Thomsoni- 
an  system.  A  partial  learning  was  the  first  step, 
and  the  result  was  a  mixed  practice,  which  I  found 
could  not  succeed.  I  found  I  must  be  a  Thom- 
sonian  altogether,  or  abandon  the  cause.  The 
result  has  been,  that  thus  resolutely  pursuing  this 
course,  I  became  astonished  at  its  success.  This 
outri vailed  any  thing  with  which  I  had  ever  been 
acquainted  in  private  practice,  or  in  my  former 
official  capacity  as  surgeon  in  the  United  States 
army,  or  any  public  or  private  station  I  had  ever 
been  called  to  fill."  He  says  also  in  a  letter  to 
Dr.  John  Thomson,  "  My  practice  has  been  ex- 
tensive— my  experience  and  opportunity  for  obser- 
vation has  seldom  been  exceeded ;  but  I  venture  to 
pledge  myself  upon  all  I  hold  sacred  in  the  pro- 
fession, that  in  my  estimation  the  discoveries  made 
by  your  honored  father  have  a  decided  prefer- 
ence, and  stand  unrivalled  by  all  that  bears  the 
stamp  of  ancient  or  modern  skill." 


44  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

Dr.  SAMUEL  ROBERTSON,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
who  pursued  his  studies  in  England,  and  after- 
wards under  the  celebrated  Dr.  Rush,  of  Philadel- 
phia, says,  "  I  have  renounced  the  depleting  and 
poisoning  system  altogether ;  and  hereafter,  from 
this  day,  my  life  shall  be  spent  in  diffusing  a 
knowledge  of  the  superiority  of  the  Thomsonian 
system,  however  much  I  may  be  abused  by  my 
former  brethren." 

Dr.  W.  K.  GRIFFIN,  of  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  also  em- 
braced this  system.  He  says,  "After  having 
attended  three  courses  of  lectures  at  the  college 
of  physicians  and  surgeons  at  Fairfield,  and  ob- 
tained the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  I  com- 
menced using  calomel,  opium,  and  the  like,  with 
the  most  unshaken  confidence.  Frequent  failures 
I  was  wont  to  attribute  to  the  inveteracy  of  the 
disease.  But  experience  soon  taught  me  a  differ- 
ent lesson.  I  had  frequent  occasions  to  notice, 
that  when  circumstances  prevented  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  popular  remedies,  nature  performed 
a  cure  much  sooner,  and  left  the  patient  in  a  more 
favorable  condition,  than  in  cases  where  the  scien- 
tific medical  books  were  followed.  I  communi- 
(cated  this  discovery  to  my  confidential  friends  in 
the  profession,  and  found  to  my  no  small  surprise, 
that  many  of  them  were  equally  conscious  of  the 
fact.  '  But,'  said  they,  { the  people  love  to  be  de- 
ceived, and  in  this  respect  it  promotes  our  interest 
to  accommodate  them.  They  call  on  us  to  pre- 
scribe, and  by  crying  down  our  own  medicines, 
;we  should  at  once  throw  ourselves  out  of  busi- 
ness.7 

\  "  Though  I  had  always  possessed  the  strongest 
prejudice  against  that  class  of  men  vulgarly  called 
jsteam  doctors,  yet  testimony  in  their  favor  had  at 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  40 

length  become  so  abundant,  that  I  was  forced  to 
relinquish  in  some  measure  my  preconceived  opin- 
ions, so  far  at  least  as  to  give  their  system  a  fair 
investigation.  When  I  entered  upon  the  Thom- 
sonian  practice,  I  was  convinced  that  it  possessed 
rare  virtues,  yet  it  was  natural  for  me  to  suppose 
that  those  virtues  had  been  much  exaggerated  by 
the  friends  of  the  system.  But  in  this  respect  I 
was  happily  disappointed,  for  I  discovered,  as  my 
practical  knowledge  of  the  system  increased,  that 
half  its  virtues  had  not  been  told." 

STEPHEN  DEAN,  M.  D.,  of  Hamburgh,  N.  Y., 
who  was  seventeen  years  a  "  regular,"  in  giving 
his  reasons  for  renouncing  the  old  system  and 
embracing  Thomson's,  says,  "I  tried  the  same 
remedies  upon  myself  that  I  used  upon  my  pa- 
tients, and  they  nearly  ruined  me,  and  I  accord- 
ingly threw  away  my  lance,  and  all  my  poisonous 
drugs,  and  adopted  the  safe,  simple  and  efficacious 
system  of  Dr.  Thomson." 

Dr.  THOMAS  EVELEIGH,  M.  D.,  of  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  in  a  letter  to  the  editor  of  the  Thomsonian 
Recorder,  says,  "The  theory  of  disease  upon  which 
is  based  the  Thomsonian  system  of  practice,  I 
consider  as  approaching  nearer  the  truth  than  any 
other  theory  with  which  I  am  acquainted ;  and  so 
perfectly  satisfied  am  I  of  this  fact,  that  I  have 
abandoned  the  old  practice  altogether,  and  have 
adopted  Thomson's  in  preference  ;  and  every  day's 
experience  tends  to  confirm  me  in  the  opinion  I 
first  formed,  that  the  system  is  based  on  the  im- 
mutable principles  of  truth,  and  wants  nothing 
but  faithful  and  intelligent  practitioners,  to  evince 
to  the  world  its  superiority  over  every  other  sys- 
tem, I  am  persuaded  that  as  soon  as  the  public 


46  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

mind  becomes   enlightened  upon  the  subject,  it 
must  and  will  supersede  every  other  practice." 

We  could  fill  this  volume  with  the  encomiums 
of  those  who  have  practised  many  years  on  the  old 
school  system,  who  have  renounced  the  same,  and 
become  thorough-going  Thomsonians  ;  but  enough 
have  already  been  introduced,  to  show  that  the 
advocates  of  Thomsonism  are  not  all  an  illiterate, 
ignorant  class  of  men.  About  three  hundred  more 
might  be  added,  whose  testimony  would  be  in  ac- 
cordance with  those  whose  names  we  have  insert- 
ed, who  have  spent  the  usual  time  in  studying  the 
works  of  the  faculty,  attended  medical  lectures, 
and  practised  many  years,  poisoning  people  well. 
After  a  thorough  and  candid  examination  of  the 
Thomsonian  system,  with  all  their  prepossessions 
against  it,  and  a  trial  of  its  remedial  agents,  in  all 
the  different  forms  of  disease,  they  were  compelled, 
by  the  force  of  evidence,  to  abandon  their  poison- 
ing system,  and  adopt  one  more  in  accordance 
with  nature,  reason,  and  common  sense.  Thou- 
sands of  others  have  adopted  a  mixed  practice  to 
secure  the  patronage  of  all  parties. 


PART  II. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HEALTH. 

Health — the  poor  man's  riches,  and  the  rich  man's  bliss. 

A  STATE  of  health  consists  in  the  power  of  all 
the  different  organs  to  perform,  in  an  easy  and 
regular  manner,  all  their  proper  offices.  This  state, 
on  which  our  happiness  so  much  depends,  is  the 
legitimate  result  of  a  correct  mode  of  living.  The 
man,  woman,  or  child,  who  daily  transgresses  the 
physical  laws  of  their  nature,  can  no  more  expect 
to  be  healthy,  than  they  can  expect  to  breathe 
without  air  or  live  under  water. 

Ask  the  man  who  has  not  been  free  from  pain 
a  single  day  for  a  series  of  years,  what  he  consid- 
ers the  greatest  earthly  blessing,  and  he  will  tell 
you,  health.  When  deprived  of  this,  all  nature 
wears  a  gloomy  aspect.  The  glistening  sun- 
beams, the  opening  flowers,  the  green-clad  trees, 
the  rippling  streams,  or  the  soul-cheering  notes  of 
the  feathered  songsters,  have  for  him  no  charms. 
The  aching  head,  the  hacking  cough,  and  the 
hectic  flush,  admonish  him,  that  soon  he  must 
close  his  eyes  on  all  things  earthly.  Then  it  is  he 
looks  back  with  sorrow  and  deep  remorse  on  a  life 
spent  in  constant  violation  of  the  laws  of  nature, 
the  result  of  which  is  always  to  produce  misery 
5 


4S  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

and  disease  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  those 
violations. 

Thousands  there  are,  who  are  this  moment  roll- 
ing in  wealth,  who  would  give  a  quit-claim  deed 
of  all  creation,  and  place  themselves  in  the  condi- 
tion of  the  man  who  depends  on  his  daily  labor  for 
his  daily  bread,  if  they  could  enjoy  perfect  health. 

If  health  be  thus  valuable,  that  the  miser  will 
pour  out  his  gold,  the  epicure  give  up  his  sump- 
tuous fare,  and  the  young  lady  bid  defiance  to  the 
life-destroying  fashions  of  the  age,  that  they  may 
obtain  it  when  lost,  is  it  not  worth  preserving  ? 

How  then  can  we  preserve  our  health  ?  Here 
is  a  question  of  more  importance  than  any  other 
of  the  great  questions  that  are  now  agitating  the 
world.  Any  question  or  enterprise,  having  for  its 
object  the  accumulation  or  preservation  of  wealth, 
would  weigh  as  little  in  comparison  with  this,  as 
the  bubble  in  the  opposite  scale  with  the  moun- 
tain. It  may  be  argued  that  health  is  a  blessing 
conferred  upon  us  by  Divine  Providence,  and  He 
continues  or  destroys  it  according  to  his  own  plea- 
sure, without  any  agency  of  our  own.  This  doc- 
trine has  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent,  and  has 
been  sanctioned  by  those  who  profess  to  know 
more  about  the  mysterious  dealings  of  Providence 
than  they  do  the  physiological  laws  of  our  nature. 
Is  it  not  the  height  of  injustice  to  charge  upon 
Him,  whose  "  tender  mercies  are  over  all  the  works 
of  his  hands,  "  our  own  folly  ?  He,  in  infinite 
wisdom  and  goodness,  has  established  certain  un- 
changeable laws,  by  which  all  matter,  animate  and 
inanimate,  is  governed.  Obedience  to  these  laws 
secures  to  us  health  and  all  its  blessings,  with  as 
much  certainty  as  obedience  to  moral  laws  secures 
peace  of  mind. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  49 

In  order  therefore  to  preserve  health,  a  proper 
regard  must  be  had  to  food,  drink,  clothing,  exer- 
cise, air,  and  bathing. 

FOOD  AND  DRINK. — On  no  one  thing  does  per- 
fect health  so  much  depend,  as  on  the  quantity, 
quality,  and  proper  mastication  of  food ;  notwith- 
standing which,  a  majority  of  mankind  swallow 
down,  half  chewed,  and  in  large  quantities,  a  he- 
terogeneous mass  of  beef,  pork,  butter,  cheese, 
mince  pies,  cakes,  &c.,  regardless  of  consequences 
or  the  object  of  eating  and  drinking.  So  long  as 
we  thus  transgress  nature's  laws,  so  long  we  must 
suffer  the  consequences ;  which  are  pain,  debility, 
and  untimely  death,  in  spite  of  physicians,  regu- 
lar or  irregular,  homoeopathic,  hydropathic,  or 
Thomsonian  even.  Such  is  the  difference  in  the 
habits  and  constitution  of  man,  that  no  universal 
system  of  diet  can  be  prescribed,  adapted  to  the 
circumstances  of  all  j  but  a  few  simple  rules  should 
always  be  observed.  Eat,  three  times  a  day  onlyt 
a  moderate  quantity  of  such  food  as  is  the  most 
easily  digested,  which  should  be  well  chewed  or 
mixed  with  the  saliva  before  it  is  swallowed. 
The  best  food  is  coarse  wheat  bread,  potatoes,  rice, 
ripe  fruit,  rye  pudding,  peas,  beans,  &c.,  and  the 
best  drink  is  pure  cold  water ;  avoiding  tea,  cof- 
fee, fat  meat,  butter,  cheese,  &c.  The  real  object 
of  eating  should  be  kept  in  view,  viz.  to  supply 
the  system  with  a  proper  amount  of  nutriment, 
varying  according  to  the  amount  of  active  exercise 
taken,  and  the  power  of  the  digestive  apparatus, 
and  not  to  gratify  a  depraved  appetite.  Every 
man  and  woman  should  become  acquainted  with 
the  physiological  laws  of  their  nature,  so  as  to  eat 
and  drink  and  provide  for  their  children  in  accord- 
ance therewith. 


50  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

CLOTHING. — The  principal  object 'of  clothing  is 
to  protect  the  body  from  cold  and  inclement  wea- 
ther, and  therefore  should  be  adapted  to  the  cli- 
mate, season  of  the  year,  age,  &c.  The  practice 
of  dressing  children  very  warm,  serves  to  enfeeble 
and  relax  the  system,  rendering  them  subject  to 
colds  and  all  their  attendant  evils.  They  should 
be  accustomed  to  wear  but  little  clothing  when  in 
doors,  and  that  perfectly  loose  about  them.  It 
will  be  observed  that  those  children  who,  from 
necessity,  are  poorly  clad  and  coarsely  fed,  are 
usually  more  robust  than  those  who  are  warmly 
clad,  and  are  pampered  with  all  the  nice  things  a 
fond  mother  can  obtain ;  the  good  intentions  of 
whom  do  not  prevent  the  suffering  she  is  unavoid- 
ably bringing  upon  herself  and  offspring.  This 
consideration  only  should  be  kept  in  view  in  dress, 
regardless  of  fashion,  that  is,  its  adaptedness  to 
the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the  wearer,  and 
the  season  of  the  year.  Too  much  cannot  be  said 
against  compressing  the  chest,  as  is  the  custom  of 
many  females,  who  have  thereby  sacrificed  them- 
selves to  the  goddess  fashion,  and  we  fear  many 
more  must  be  sacrificed  at  the  same  shrine  before 
the  practice  will  be  abandoned.  Tight  bandages 
about  the  neck,  or  any  part  of  the  system,  should 
be  avoided,  as  they  obstruct  the  free  circulation 
of  blood. 

If  a  man  would  live  in  accordance  with  his 
nature,  take  proper  exercise  in  the  open  air,  and 
thereby  produce  a  free  circulation  of  blood,  but 
little  clothing  would  be  required ;  but  as  he  is 
enfeebled  by  disease,  Avant  of  exercise,  &c.,  he 
must  keep  himself  warm  by  flannels,  stoves,  and 
stimulating  meats  and  drinks,  until  exhausted  na- 
ture gives  up  the  struggle  to  sustain  its  requisite 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  5J 

quantity  of  heat,  which  suddenly  sinks  to  the  tem- 
perature of  the  ground  six  feet  from  the  surface. 

The  real  object  of  clothing  seems,  at  the  present 
day,  to  be  almost  entirely  overlooked ;  fashion, 
.instead  of  convenience  and  comfort,  must  be  con- 
sulted. How  many  render  themselves  miserable 
because  they  have  not  the  means  of  following 
every  foolish  fashion  that  is  introduced !  while 
others  toil  incessantly,  giving  themselves  no  op- 
portunity for  the  improvement  of  the  mind  or 
innocent  amusement,  destroying  their  health  and 
happiness  to  obtain  the  means  of  rendering  them- 
selves ridiculous  in  the  eyes  of  the  really  wise. 
But  so  the  world  goes,  and  so  it  must  continue  to 
go,  until  dress  and  shape  become  so  ridiculous  and 
fantastical  as  to  be  a  laughing-stock  for  each  other. 
Says  the  celebrated  Cobbett  on  this  subject,  "  Let 
our  dress  be  as  cheap  as  may  be  without  shabbi- 
ness ;  attend  more  to  the  color  of  your  shirt  than 
to  the  gloss  and  texture  of  your  coat ;  be  always 
clean  as  your  situation  will,  without  inconveni- 
ence, permit ;  but  never,  no,  not  for  one  moment, 
believe  that  any  human  being,  with  sense  in  his 
skull,  will  love  or  respect  you  on  account  of  your 
fine,  costly  clothes." 

The  man  or  woman,  who  has  independence 
enough  to  dare  dress  consistently  and  decently,  in 
defiance  of  a  foolish  and  pernicious  fashion,  if 
holding  a  rank  in  society  that  gives  them  influ- 
ence, will  do  much  for  the  benefit  of  his  or  her 
race.  Ye  professed  followers  of  the  despised  Na- 
zarene,  shall  we  not  look  to  you  for  the  example  ? 
or  must  Christianity  itself  yield  to  fashion,  and  its 
professors  vie  with  each  other  in  obtaining  the 
most  gaudy  and  costly  apparel  ? 

EXERCISE. — It  is  a  law  of  our  nature  that  a  cer- 
5* 


52  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

tain  amount   of  active  exercise  in  the  open  air 
must  be  taken  every  day  in  order  to  be  perfectly 
healthy ;  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  amount  ne- 
cessary to  procure  all  the  food,  clothing,  &c.,  for 
the  whole,  together  with  what  would  be  naturally 
taken  in  amusement  and  walks  of  pleasure,  if  di- 
vided equally  among  those  who  were  competent 
to  labor,  would  be  the  proper  amount  of  exercise 
for  each  ;  but  in  the  present  arrangement  of  soci- 
ety, the  few  must  labor  incessantly  in  active  em- 
ployment, exhausting  the  powers  of  nature,  and 
leaving  the  moral  and  intellectual  powers  unculti- 
vated ;  while   the  many  are  engaged  entirely  in 
sedentary  employments,  or  no  employment,   ex- 
cept to  consume  what  the  hard  labor  of  the  few 
produces.     Both  classes  transgress  the  laws  of  na- 
ture— the    one,  in   not    exercising   enough;    the 
other,  in  exercising  too  much.     The  facilities  for 
locomotion  are  such  at  the  present  time,  and  the 
disposition  of  man  to  avail  himself  of  them   so 
general,  that  nearly  all  action  of  the  lower  extre- 
mities will  be  suspended  by  those  who  have  the 
means  of  paying  the  expense  of  being  trucked  or 
cabbed  to  the  cars,  and  by  the  cars  to  their  desired 
town  or  city,  and  then  trucked  or  cabbed  again 
to  the  residence  of  a  friend  or  the  traveller's  home. 
The  result  of  which  is  invariably,  coldness  of  the 
extremities,   costiveness,    head-ache,    indigestion, 
lowness  of  spirits,  weakness ;    then  come  Indian 
purgative  pills,  calomel,  blue  pills,  steam  and  lobe- 
lia, a  visit  to  the  springs,  a  miserable  existence, 
and  premature  death.     This  is  no  picture  of  the 
imagination,   but  a  fac   simile  of  what  is  daily 
transpiring  around  us,  and  he  whose  eyes  are  open 
cannot  help  seeing  it'.     But  we  do  not  expect  to 
turn  the  tide  that  is  thus  carrying  so  many  on  the 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  53 

bosom  of  its  waters  to  the  grave.  But  the  law 
and  its  penalties  cannot  be  evaded  by  its  violators. 

Walking  is  probably  the  most  healthy  exercise  ; 
riding  on  horseback,  sawing  wood,  digging  the 
soil,  are  also  excellent  modes  of  exercise.  Those 
who  cannot  exercise  in  the  open  air  in  conse- 
quence of  ill-health  or  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  should  engage  in  such  exercise  as  they 
can  bear  within  doors;  and  if  not  able  to  take 
active  exercise,  make  use  of  the  flesh-brush  or  a 
coarse  towel  two  or  three  times  a  day. 

AIR. — But  few  are  aware  of  the  importance  of 
inhaling  pure  air,  or  duly  consider  the  consequences 
of  inhaling  that  which  is  impure.  A  fruitful  cause 
of  pulmonary  complaints,  colds,  coughs,  &c., 
at  the  present  time,  is  the  practice  of  heating 
rooms  with  stoves,  which  destroy,  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, the  oxygen,  and  leave  the  air  unfit  for  respi- 
ration ;  and  if  the  rooms  were  kept  perfectly  tight, 
the  air  would  soon  be  rendered  incapable  of  sus- 
taining life.  Our  forefathers,  by  living  in  houses 
well  ventilated,  and  being  almost  constantly  in  the 
open  air,  and  sleeping  in  apartments  where  the 
pure  air  of  heaven  was  permitted  to  circulate  free- 
ly, were  robust  and  healthy ;  while  their  posterity 
are  so  enfeebled  by  the  pernicious  customs  of  the 
age,  as  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  wrapping  up 
head,  ears  and  mouth,  when  they  go  out,  lest  they 
should  take  cold,  and  by  this  very  means  predis- 
pose the  system  to  take  cold.  ;  | 

BATHING. — Ablution,  or  bathing  the  surface  once 
a  day  in  cold  water,  is  a  very  important  means  of 
preserving  health.  It  invigorates  and  strengthens 
the  system,  cleanses  the  surface,  and  renders  a  per- 
son less  liable  to  take  cold.  It  should  be  done  in 
the  morning  on  rising  from  bed.  Take  a  bowl  of 


54  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

water,  and  with  the  hand  bathe  the  whole  surface, 
and  rub  briskly  with  a  coarse  towel.  Those  who 
are  feeble  can  use  the  tepid  weak  lye-water,  fol- 
lowed by  brisk  friction.  We  shall  treat  of  baths 
as  remedial  agents  in  another  part  of  this  work. 
•  Let  those  who  consider  health  of  more  import- 
ance than  the  gratification  of  a  depraved  appetite, 
or  conformity  to  foolish  and  destructive  fashions, 
seek  them  a  healthy  location  in  the  country,  if 
they  are  not  already  thus  situated ;  eat  the  fruits 
of  the  field  and  garden  alone ;  dress  consistently, 
with  reference  to  comfort  rather  than  fashion ; 
construct  houses  so  as  to  be  well  ventilated ;  throw 
aside  feather  beds,  air-tight  stoves,  tea  and  coffee, 
beef,  pork,  butter,  &c.,  take  four  hours  active  ex- 
ercise in  the  open  air  every  day  when  the  weather 
will  permit,  and  bathe  the  surface  in  cold  water 
every  day  ;  and  above  all,  keep  a  conscience  void 
of  offence :  and  with  as  much  certainty  as  the 
earth  revolves  round  the  sun,  or  water  inclines  to 
run  down  hill,  will  they  enjoy  health,  peace,  and 
competence.  But  those  who  are  determined  to 
follow  the  foolish  customs  of  the  age  ;  live  in  in- 
dolence or  in  constant  toil,  breathe  the  contami- 
nated air  of  cities  and  large  villages ;  eat  hogs  and 
sheep,  rich  pies  and  cakes,  and  live  in  constant 
violation  of  the  laws  of  nature,  must  suffer  the 
consequences — pain,  suffering,  anxiety,  parting 
with  loved  children,  constant  sickness,  &c.  When 
will  mankind  be  wise,  and  observe  the  laws  of 
their  nature,  and  thereby  avoid  the  suffering  that 
inevitably  follows  their  transgression  ?  In  conse- 
quence of  the  unnatural  state  in  which  man  lives, 
his  body  is  constantly  diseased,  requiring  the  aid 
of  medicine  to  assist  nature  in  her  efforts  to  regain 
lost  energy.  To  supply  this  demand,  physicians 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  ,55 

and  secret  medicine-manufacturers,  as  thick  as  the 
frogs  of  Egypt,  have  sprung  up  in  every  town  and 
city,  many  of  whose  remedies  are  as  well  adapt- 
ed to  cure  disease  as  a  hand-saw  would  be  for 
shaving,  and  the  aggregate  of  whom,  undoubtedly, 
increase  vastly  the  amount  of  disease  and  suffer- 
ing. 

The  following  remarks  on  the  promotion  of 
health  and  longevity  are  from  the  pen  of  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  COURTNEY,  surgeon,  R.  N.,  of  Rams- 
gate,  England: — 

"The  human  frame  is  so  constituted  that  it 
may,  by  wise  training,  not  only  be  brought  to 
bear  with  impunity  every  vicissitude  of  climate, 
but  even  be  strengthened  and  hardened  thereby. 
The  stomach — the  great  store-house  of  the  body, 
and  without  the  integrity  of  whose  functions  life 
itself  is  but  a  burden — can  be  rendered  capable  of 
digesting  any  kind  of  food,  and  our  bodies  of  per- 
forming almost  any  amount  of  labor,  so  long  as  we 
observe  the  rules  which  experience,  physiology, 
reason  and  common  sense  dictate.  Of  these  rules, 
the  most  important,  perhaps,  are  the  following  : — 
moderation  in  eating  and  drinking,  great  personal 
cleanliness,  early  rising,  fearless  and  daily  frequent 
exposure  to  the  weather  in  all  its  vicissitudes, 
and  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating  liquors. 
Persons  who  would  enjoy  health  and  length  of 
days  must  give  up  the  effeminate  and  luxurious 
habits  now  so  fashionable ;  and  must  not  live  in 
rooms  defended  from  the  breath  of  heaven,  by 
means  of  closely-fitting  doors  and  windows,  and 
heated  by  enormous  fires  to  a  temperature  that 
must  relax  and  enervate — rendering  them  living 
barometers,  or  like  so  many  hot-house  plants,  to 
whom  every  change  is  blight  or  death.  The  so- 


£fl  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

called  "  comforts"  of  life  are  the  very  bane  of 
health.  Lounging  on  sofas  and  in  carriages,  late 
hours,  soft  beds,  lying  in  bed  till  nine  or  ten  in 
the  morning — these,  and  the  like  luxurious  habits, 
combined  with  the  sedentary  amusements  of  card- 
playing,  novel -reading,  &c.;  are  of  themselves 
sufficient  to  dilapidate  the  strongest  constitution. 

11  The  more  exercise  any  person  takes,  the 
larger  is  the  quantity  of  oxygen  he  inhales,  and 
the  warmer  he  becomes ;  consequently  the  person 
who  takes  but  little  exercise,  inhaling  little  oxy- 
gen, loses  in  a  great  measure  its  warming,  vivify- 
ing, and  strengthening  agency.  When  there  is  a 
deficiency  of  oxygen  in  the  system,  the  black 
blood  from  the  veins  is  but  imperfectly  changed 
by  the  air  in  the  lungs,  and  a  blood  unfit  for  the 
purposes  of  life  flows  through  the  body ;  the  con- 
sequence of  which  is — must  be,  a  falling  off  in 
the  health,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Hence 
arise  those  very  prevalent  affections — chilliness, 
languor,  low  spirits,  head-aches  of  different  kinds, 
faintness,  palpitations,  stupor,  apoplexy,  &c. 
>  "It  has  been  imagined  by  persons  ignorant  of  the 
mechanism  and  physiology  of  the  human  frame, 
that  females  cannot  bear  much  exercise  or  ex- 
posure to  atmospherical  vicissitudes,  and  that 
passive  exercise  is  more  suited  to  their  constitu- 
tions. This  is  a  mistake  altogether — an  error 
which  has  caused  the  loss  of  health  in  thousands 
of  instances.  Constant  and  daily  exercise  in  the 
open  air,  early  rising,  a  daily  ablution  of  the  body 
with  cold  water,  and  the  avoidance  of  over-heated 
and  badly-ventilated  rooms,  are  essentials  in  the 
code  of  health,  which  can  no  more  be  dispensed 
with  by  the  female  than  the  male.  Indeed,  when 
we  take  into  consideration  the  many  causes  that 


A  GUJDE  TO  HEALTH.  57 

tend  to  weaken  and  impair  the  health  of  the 
female,  which  do  not  at  all  interfere  with  man,  the 
necessity  of  the  avoidance  of  enervating  habits  is 
even  more  requisite  on  the  part  of  the  weaker  sex. 
To  both  sexes  we  would  say,  avoid  easy  chairs, 
and  cushioned  sofas  and  carriages,  and  sleep  not 
on  beds  of  down,  but  on  hard  mattresses,  and  keep 
not  on  these  beyond  the  time  that  nature  requires 
for  repose.  Let  the  pure  breath  of  heaven  gain 
free  admission  to  your  apartments,  but  especially 
to  your  sleeping  apartments :  and  if  you  would 
not,  as  you  ought  not,  respire  over  and  over  again 
the  same  corrupted  air,  do  not  stop  its  free  circula- 
tion by  surrounding  your  bed  with  curtains.  Our 
fashionable  habits  are  "  the  silken  fetters  of  deli- 
cious ease,"  which  entail  spleen,  melancholy,  &c., 
on  so  many  of  the  fair  sex,  and  too  many  of 
whom  contrast,  alas !  too  forcibly,  with  Gay's 
^ivid  but  correct  description  of  a  country  girl : — 

"  She  never  felt  the  spleen's  imagined  pains, 
Nor  melancholy  stagnates  in  her  veins  ; 
She  never  loses  life  in  thoughtless  ease, 
Nor  on  the  velvet  couch  invites  disease." 

"  It  is  more  essential  to  have  our  bed-rooms  well 
ventilated  than  our  drawing-rooms,  because  we 
pass  more  time  in  them ;  and  when  we  consider 
that  the  oxygen  (oxygen  is  the  great  supporter  of 
life  and  heat)  contained  in  a  gallon  of  air  is  con- 
sumed by  one  person  in  a  minute,  and  that  a 
lighted  candle  consumes  about  the  same  quantity 
in  the  same  time,  it  must  be  evident  to  all  that 
thorough  ventilation  is  essential  to  health — that 
perfect  health,  in  fact,  cannot  be  maintained  with- 
out it ;  and  that  lights  in  our  bed-rooms,  when  a 
frequent  renewal  of  the  air  in  them  cannot  be 
maintained,  are  exceedingly  pernicious.  Accord- 


58  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

ing  to  Dr.  Arbuthnot's  calculation,  three  thousand 
human  beings,  within  the  compass  of  an  acre  of 
ground,  would  make  an  atmosphere  of  their  own 
steam,  about  seventy-one  feet  high  ;  which,  if  not 
carried  away  by  winds,  would  become  pestiferous 
in  a  moment.  It  should  be  remembered  that  the 
same  air  cannot  enter  the  lungs  more  than  four 
times  without  carrying  with  it  properties  inimical 
to  the  principles  of  life.  A  moment's  considera- 
tion of  the  state  in  which  the  air  must  be,  that  is 
confined  all  night  within  bed-curtains,  and  is 
respired  innumerable  times,  will  explain  how  it 
is  that  many  persons  rise  in  the  morning  with  pale 
faces,  bad  taste  in  the  mouth,  want  of  appetite, 
&c.;  symptoms,  however,  which  often  arise  from 
other  causes,  and  especially  from  the  use  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors.  'Being  buried  every  night  in 
feathers,'  says  the  celebrated  Locke,  'melts  and 
dissolves  the  body,  is  often  the  cause  of  weak- 
ness, and  is  the  forerunner  of  an  early  grave.' }: 

The  following  remarks  on  health  are  from  the 
pen  of  O.  S.  Fowler,  who  combines  in  his  writ- 
ings sound  reason  and  a  firm  and  fearless  advocacy 
of  unpopular  truths.  He  attacks  the  inconsisten- 
cies and  physiological  errors  of  the  age  with  the 
spirit  of  a  Luther. 

"  The  plain  inference  drawn  from  this  principle/ 
that  the  principal  temperaments  and  functions  of 
our  nature  require  to  be  equally  balanced,  is  that 
mankind  should  exercise  his  muscular  system  by 
labor,  or  being  on  foot  in  the  open  air,  about  one 
third  of  the  time  ;  should  eat  and  sleep,  (that  is, 
lay  in  his  re-supply  of  animal  life,)  about  one 
third  of  the  time  ;  and  exercise  his  brain  in  think- 
ing, studying,  &c.,  about  the  other  third  of  his 
time — each  day."  *  *  * 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  59 

"I  fully  concur  with  Jefferson's  opinion  that 
mankind  have  probably  lost  more  by  subduing  the 
horse,  than  they  have  gained  by  his  labor.  Riding 
in  carriages  is  so  easy,  so  luxurious,  to  the  dainty 
belle,  that  all  classes  are,  as  it  were,  horse  crazy, 
and  by  shifting  all  their  burdens,  and  most  of  their 
locomotion,  upon  the  horse,  they  stand  in  the  light 
of  their  own  muscular  action,  which  bids  fair 
soon  to  be  obliged  to  employ  horse-power,  (or 
perhaps  steam-power,)  with  which  to  breathe  and 
eat."  ***** 

"  Let  us  open  our  eyes  upon  what  we  see  daily 
and  continually  in  our  city.  See  that  young 
merchant,  or  lawyer,  or  clerk,  or  broker,  whose 
business  shuts  him  up  all  day  in  his  store,  or  at 
his  desk,  till  his  circulation,  digestion,  cerebral 
action,  and  all  the  powers  of  life  are  enfeebled, 
walk  merely  from  his  door  on  to  the  side-walk, 
possibly  one  or  two  blocks,  and  wait  for  an  omni- 
bus, to  carry  him  a  few  blocks  farther  to  his  meals 
or  bed  !  One  would  think  that,  starved  almost  to 
death  as  he  is  for  want  of  exercise,  he  would  em- 
brace every  opportunity  to  take  exercise,  instead 
of  which,  he  embraces  every  opportunity  to  avoid 
it.  As  well  avoid  living,  which  indeed  it  is.  And 
then  too,  see  that  delicate,  fashionable  lady,  so 
very  prim,  nice,  refined,  delicate,  and  all  this  be- 
sides much  more,  that  she  does  not  get  out  of 
doors  once  a  week,  order  her  carriage  just  to  take 
her  and  her  pale-faced,  sickly  child  to  church  on 
Sunday,  because  it  is  two  or  three  blocks  off — too 
far  for  them  to  walk."  *  *  * 
•  "  And  what  shall  we  say  of  those  who  sit  and 
sew  all  day.  or  work  at  any  of  the  confining 
branches  of  industry  that  preclude  the  exercise 
except  of  a  few  muscles,  and  perhaps  keep  them- 
6 


60  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

selves  bent  over  forward  on  to  their  stomachs, 
lungs,  heart,  bowels,  and  over  eat  at  that !  Oh ! 
when  will  man  learn  to  live — learn  by  what  con- 
stitutional laws  he  is  governed,  and  how  to  obey 
these  laws  ?  When  Physiology  and  Phrenology 
are  studied  ;  never  till  then. 

"  Fly  swifter  round,  ye  wheels  of  time, 
And  bring  that  welcome  day." — WATTS. 


CHAPTER  II. 

DISEASE. 

Medical  theorists  have  arranged  diseases  into 
different  orders,  classes,  and  kinds,  according  to 
their  symptoms,  giving  to  each  a  different  name, 
and  recommending  for  each  a  different  mode  of 
treatment.  This  course  has  involved  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  darkness,  perplexity,  and  doubt. 
No  physician  can  decide  for  a  certainty,  what  or- 
gan is  primarily  affected,  or  what  name  to  give  the 
disease.  He  must  therefore  do  nothing  until  the 
symptoms  are  so  far  developed  as  to  enable  him 
to  give  it  a  name,  or  lift  his  club  and  strike  at 
random. 

Said  Dr.  Abercrombie,  a  distinguished  physi- 
cian, "  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  acknowledging, 
that  since  medicine  was  first  cultivated  as  a 
science,  a  leading  object  of  attention  has  ever  been 
to  ascertain  the  characters  and  symptoms  by 
which  particular  internal  diseases  are  indicated, 
and  by  which  they  are  distinguished  from  other 
diseases,  which  resemble  them.  But,  with  the 
accumulated  experience  of  ages  bearing  upon  this 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  61 

important  subject,  our  extended  observation  has 
only  served  to  convince  us  how  deficient  we  are 
in  this  department,  and  how  often,  in  the  first  step 
of  our  progress,  we  are  left  to  conjecture.  A  writer 
of  high  eminence,  Morgagni,  has  even  hazarded 
the  assertion  that  persons  are  the  most  confident 
in  regard  to  the  characters  of  disease,  whose 
knowledge  is  most  limited,  and  that  more  extend- 
ed observation  generally  leads  to  doubt." 

Disease  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  devia- 
tion from  a  state  of  health,  consisting  in,  or  de- 
pending on,  an  obstruction  or  diminution  of  the 
vital  energies  ;  exhibiting  different  symptoms  ac- 
cording to  the  extent  of  the  deviation,  the  import- 
ance of  the  organ  affected,  or  peculiar  state  of  the 
person  coming  under  influences  capable  of  pro- 
ducing a  state  of  disease. 

He  who  does  not  enjoy  perfect  health  is  more 
or  less  under  the  influence  of  disease  ;  the  cause 
of  which  being  continued,  disease  progresses, 
acting  on  different  organs,  deranging  different 
functions,  and  exhibiting  new  symptoms,  until  the 
powers  of  nature  yield,  and  death  is  the  result.  ! 

A  disease  is  either  general  or  local,  functional 
or  organic.  It  is  general,  when  the  whole  system 
is  affected ;  and  local,  when  it  is  confined  to  a 
particular  part.  A  disease  is  functional,  when  an 
organ  is  laboring  under  some  derangement  j  and 
organic,  when  there  is  an  alteration  in  the  struc- 
ture of  the  organ. 


0Q  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH, 

CHAPTER  III. 

THE    UNITY    OF    DISEASE. 

The  doctrine  of  the  unity  of  disease,  as  advo- 
cated by  ThomsonianSj  has  not  generally  been 
understood,  and  therefore  the  medical  faculty  have 
endeavored  to  bring  the  Thomsonian  system  into 
disrepute  by  ridiculing  it.  We  do  not  say  every 
form  of  disease  is  characterized  by  the  same  symp- 
toms, or  is  located  primarily  or  principally  on  the 
same  organ  ;  but  that  for  the  purpose  of  applying 
medicine  safely  and  scientifically,  a  division  of 
disease  into  classes,  orders,  and  kinds,  is  not  neces- 
sary, neither  is  it  possible.  When  we  transgress 
the  laws  of  nature  by  constantly  overloading  the 
stomach,  the  effect  is  general,  every  organ  is  more 
or  less  deranged  and  debilitated,  consequently  not 
capable  of  performing  its  functions.  To  what 
organ  then,  should  medicine  be  applied  to  remove 
the  cause  and  effect  of  disease  ?  Would  not  the 
only  rational  course  be  to  remove  the  first  cause 
by  taking  food  in  a  proper  quantity  and  quality, 
and  then,  by  general  stimulants  and  relaxants, 
arouse  the  different  organs  to  action  to  throw  off 
the  morbid  accumulations,  and  thereby  relieve 
nature  by  removing  the  obstructions  to  her  free 
operations  ?  Let  the  form  of  disease  or  symptoms 
be  what  they  may,  the  only  business  of  the  physi- 
cian is  to  remove  the  obstructions  to  nature's 
efforts,  and  assist  her  in  her  operations.  We  may 
as  consistently  divide  hunger  into  a  thousand  dif- 
ferent kinds,  and  prescribe  one  particular  article 
of  food  to  nourish  one  portion  of  the  system,  and 
another  article  to  nourish  another  part,  as  to  pre- 
scribe a  medicine  to  remove  disease  from  a 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  63 

particular  portion  of  the  system,  without  having 
its  natural  effect  on  the  whole  system.  An  ex- 
perience of  fifty  years  by  millions  of  patients 
afflicted  with  every  conceivable  form  of  disease, 
has  sufficiently  tested  and  established  the  fact,  that 
a  Thomsonian  course  of  medicine,  judiciously  ad- 
ministered, is  adapted  to  the  cure  of  every  form' 
of  disease,  that  is  curable  ;  although  in  many  cases 
it  may  not  be  necessary  to  resort  to  it,  as  some- 
thing more  mild  and  pleasant  in  its  operation  will 
frequently  accomplish  the  object  in  the  early  stage 
of  disease  ;  neither  is  it  necessary  to  administer  it 
when  the  powers  of  nature  are  so  far  exhausted  as 
to  render  a  recovery  impossible.  On  this  one  fact: 
does  the  safety  of  the  Thomsonian  system  depend 
in  the  hands  of  the  people — that  disease,  wherever, 
located  in  the  human  system,  whatever  its  form 
or  the  symptoms  by  which  it  is  characterized,  mayj 
be  successfully  treated  on  general  principles,  with 
remedies  operating  in  harmony  with  the  laws  of  I 
nature.  So  that  the  mother  may  administer  to 
her  child,  the  husband  to  the  wife,  and  the  wife 
to  the  husband,  with  the  most  unshaken  confi-[ 
dence  j  and  thereby  avoiding  the  quackery  for; 
which  the  present  age  will  ever  be  memorable 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    CAUSES    OP    DISEASE. 

We  stated  in  the  first  chapter  that  health  was! 

secured  by  obeying  the  physical  laws  of  our  na-< 

ture  ;  and  in  the  second  chapter,  that  disease  was1 

a  deviation  from  a  state  of  health,  or  an  obstruction1 

6* 


54  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

or  diminution  of  vital  energy.  The  cause  of 
disease  must  therefore  be  a  transgression  or  viola- 
tion of  the  laws  of  our  nature.  This  violation 
may  be  voluntary  on  our  part,  with  or  without  a 
knowledge  of  the  consequences ;  it  may  be  pro- 
duced by  circumstances  beyond  our  control,  as 
when  we  come  in  contact,  inhale  or  take  into  our 
stomachs  poisonous  substances  or  gases,  or  it  may 
be,  according  to  the  proverb,  "the  fathers  [or 
mothers]  have  eaten  sour  grapes  and  the  children's 
teeth  are  set  on  edge,"  or  hereditary  disease,  de- 
pending on  the  transgressions  of  our  forefathers. 

A  fruitful  cause  of  disease  is  the  pernicious 
fashions  of  the  age.  While  reason  and  experience 
would  lead  us  to  obey  the  laws  of  our  nature, 
fashion  says,  Follow  me — I  will  lead  you  into 
the  paths  of  pleasure :  My  laws  require  no  self- 
denial  ; — eat,  drink,  sleep,  dress,  just  as  the  fancy 
of  my  directors  may  dictate,  which  you  will  find 
pleasing  to  the  eye  and  gratifying  to  the  taste, 
after  you  have  become  accustomed  to  their  use* — 
Disease  you  need  not  fear,  as  my  friends,  the 
medical  faculty,  are  always  ready  to  administer  to 
you  relief;  and  although  they  may  give  you 
poisons,  calculated  to  produce  incurable  disease, 
you  should  submit  patiently,  and  kiss  the  rod  that 
inflicts  the  fatal  blow. — Who  would  not  rather 
live  fashionable,  though  it  produces  constant  head- 
ache, debility,  nervous  disease,  palsy,  consump- 
tion, rheumatism,  gout,  &c.,  and  employ  fashiona- 
ble physicians,  and  take  fashionable  medicines, 
though  death  was  the  result,  than  to  be  called  a 
Orahamite  or  a  Thomsonian  ? 

To  be  sure,  says  fashion,  the  pleasures  I  offer 
you  are  but  for  a  season,  but  who  would  not  rather 
to  respected  by  the  rich,  and  flattered  by  all, 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  35 

though  it  lead  to  sorrow  and  death,  than  to  live 
consistently  and  die  in  obscurity  ? 

It  is  so  refined  to  enjoy  a  social  glass  of  wine, 
so  beautiful  to  appear  at  church  with  waists  of  the 
size  of  a  broom-handle,  net-work  stockings  and 
slippers  in  the  month  of  March — so  delicious  to 
eat  hogs  and  sheep  swimming  in  grease,  rich 
cakes  and  pies,  bread  well  buttered  and  washed 
down  with  strong  tea  and  coffee — so  gentleman 
and  lady-like  to  lie  in  bed  till  nine  o'clock,  ride 
out  at  eleven,  dine  at  three,  and  eat  a  hearty  sup- 
per at  ten — so  exquisitely  beautiful  to  appear 
abroad  in  curls  and  ruffles,  cane  and  spectacles, 
with  feet  and  waists  compressed  into  fashionable 
shape,  with  delicate  hands  and  unbrowned  face,  it 
is  evidence  that  one  does  not  have  to  labor  for  a 
living.  Labor !  says  fashion,  the  bare  mention  of 
such  a  thing  would  shock  the  feeble  nerves  of  any 
of  my  followers.  Labor  ! !  never  ! — cheat,  lie, 
steal,  rob,  any  thing,  rather  than  submit  to  work 
for  a  living.  Let  them  do  the  labor  who  have  not 
wit  enough  to  get  a  living  without,  or  so  much 
of  that  foolish  conscientiousness,  that  they  will 
not  cheat  when  they  have  an  opportunity,  to  ob- 
tain the  means  of  following  me. 

Thus  following  such  pernicious  and  foolish  fash-» 
ions  is  one  of  the  most  common  causes  of  disease. 

The  evils  of  fashionable  life  are  not  confined  to 
the  rich,  but  the  laboring  portion  of  community 
have  so  mistaken  their  true  interest,  as  to  sacrifice 
their  health  and  comfort  to  obtain  the  means  of 
imitating  the  rich,  and  also  by  the  using  those 
means  when  obtained. 

He  noble  is  who  noble  does.  The  farmer,  me- 
chanic, and  manufacturer  of  that  which  is  useful, 
are  the  true  nobility.  Let  them,  then,  take  their 


66  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

proper  station  in  the  scale  of  beings — establish 
their  own  customs  in  accordance  with  reason  and 
the  laws  of  our  nature,  so  that  a  proper  amount 
of  labor  would  be  made  attractive  to  all,  and  all 
be  under  the  necessity  of  doing  their  proportion 
of  all  the  needful  labor — none  exempt  except  from 
inability,  and  consequently  none  over-taxed  or 
over-burdened.  All  would  then  have  time  and 
opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  the  physi- 
ological laws  of  their  nature,  so  as  to  avoid  those 
customs  and  agents  that  bring  upon  them  so  much 
disease. 

The  cause  of  all  disease  can  be  clearly  traced 
to  the  violation  of  some  one  or  more  of  the  laws 
of  our  nature : — 

1st.  By  our  forefathers  ;  producing  in  us  heredi* 
tary  taints,  such  as  consumption,  scrofula,  liver 
complaints,  &c. 

2d.  Insufficient  or  too  great  an  amount  of  ex- 
ercise. The  former  producing  an  inactive  state 
of  the  organs — the  latter  producing  an  exhaustion, 
in  both  of  which  states  they  do  not  perform  their 
proper  offices.  The  stomach  ceases  to  secrete  the 
necessary  quantity  of  gastric  juice  to  carry  on 
digestion,  the  bowels  are  costive,  the  morbific 
agents  generated  in  the  system  retained,  the 
wheels  of  life  clogged  until  exhausted  nature  gives 
up  the  struggle  to  keep  in  motion  its  machinery. 

3d.  Sudden  changes  from  heat  to  cold,  or  cold 
to  heat. 

4th.  Eating  and  drinking  that  which  is  injuri- 
ous in  itself,  or  if  not  injurious  in  itself,  made  so 
by  the  quantity  taken. 

5th.  Poisons,  coming  in  contact  with  the  sur- 
face, taken  into  the  stomach,  inhaled  into  the 
lungs,  or  inoculated  into  the  veins  j  such  as  the 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  57 

miasma  of  swamps  and  lakes,  the  bite  of  snakes 
or  any  poisonous  reptile  or  animal ;  the  inhalation 
or  inoculation  of  a  poison  virus,  as  the  small  pox, 
measles,  &c. ;  taking  any  substance  into  the  sto- 
mach capable  of  destroying  life,  in  small  quanti- 
ties, although  the  destruction  of  life  may  be  pre- 
vented by  the  efforts  of  nature  in  expelling  it  from 
the  system,  or  protecting  herself  against  its  imme- 
diate destructive  effect,  yet  rapidly  diminishing 
the  vitality  of  the  system,  and  dragging  its"  victim 
slowly  but  surely  to  the  grave. 

6th.  Mechanical  or  chemical  injuries ;  such  as 
wounds,  cuts,  burns,  freezes,  &c.  These  causes, 
acting  separately  or  combined  on  the  human  sys- 
tem a  length  of  time,  impede  the  vital  functions, 
obstruct  the  free  operation  of  the  organs,  and 
produce  disease. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    EFFECTS    OF    DISEASE. 

We  have  said  that  disease  was  an  obstruction  or 
diminution  of  vital  energy,  caused  by  a  violation 
of  the  laws  of  nature.  The  effects  of  this  ob- 
struction are  various,  depending  on  the  organ  ob- 
structed or  disenabled,  the  extent  of  that  obstruc- 
tion, and  the  vital  power  existing  in  the  system 
to  overcome  the  offending  causes.  The  different 
symptoms  by  which  the  different  forms  of  disease 
are  characterized,  are  arranged  by  medical  authors 
into  classes  or  kinds,  giving  to  each  class  a  differ- 
ent name,  as  fever,  which  is  subdivided  into  ten 
or  twelve  kinds  or  colors,  as  scarlet,  yellow,  &c.  j 
consumption,  fits,  dropsy,  rheumatism,  &c.  These 


68  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

are  not  separate  and  distinct  diseases,  but  a  mani- 
festation or  effect  of  disease. 

Fever  is  not  a  disease,  but  the  effect  of  an  effort 
of  nature  to  overcome  disease.  Let  an  individual 
be  exposed  to  the  cold  after  sweating,  without  any 
exercise,  and  what  is  the  result  ?  Pain  in  the  head 
and  back,  cold  chills  succeeded  by  a  preternatural 
degree  of  heat,  pulse  strong  and  quick.  What  is 
the  cause  of  these  symptoms  ?  A  contraction  of 
the  minute  blood-vessels  of  the  surface  and  the 
pores  of  the  skin,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
circulation  is  thrown  upon  the  large  blood-vessels, 
occasioning  fulness  and  pain  in  the  head,  back, 
&c.,  and  retention  of  morbific  agents,  occasioning 
an  increased  action  of  the  heart  and  arteries.  This 
increased  action  generates  more  heat  than  in  a 
healthy  state,  which  is  retained  in  consequence  of 
the  pores  of  the  skin  being  closed,  through  which 
medium  the  extra  heat  escapes  in  a  healthy  state. 
This  retained  heat  gives  a  name  to  the  disease,  as 
fever  means  heat.  It  must  appear  evident  that 
this  retained  heat,  called  fever,  is  not  the  disease, 
but  the  effect  of  disease.  Disease  assumes  the 
most  dangerous  forms  when  there  is  a  deficiency 
of  fever,  as  in  low  typhus  fever,  cholera,  cold 
plague,  paralysis,  &c.  Fever  is  an  evidence  that 
nature  is  active ;  whereas  a  loss  of  fever,  before 
the  cause  is  removed,  would  be  a  certain  indica- 
tion of  approaching  death. 

The  effect  of  disease,  then,  is  to  produce  all 
those  different  phenomena  that  physicians  have 
classed  under  different  names,  as  so  many  different 
diseases. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  09 

CHAPTER  VI. 

TREATMENT    OP   DISEASE. 

We  have  so  long  been  accustomed  to  consider 
the  most  prominent  symptom  attending  any  form 
of  disease  to  be  the  disease  itself,  to  destroy  which 
all  our  efforts  should  be  employed,  that  it  will  be 
somewhat  difficult  to  present  the  subject  in  a  true 
light,  and  be  clearly  understood. 

The  belief  generally  prevails,  that  each  form 
of  disease  has  a  specific  remedy,  the  knowledge 
of  which  may  be  obtained  by  study  or  experience. 
But  I  ask  what  specific  remedy  has  the  medical 
faculty  discovered  for  any  form  of  disease  ?  Have 
they  a  remedy  for  fever  ?  If  so,  why  let  it  run 
three  or  four  weeks  ?  —  for  consumption  ?  if  so, 
why  so  many  die  ?  —  for  dropsy  ?  if  so,  why  fail 
to  cure  in  nearly  every  instance  ?  —  for  dyspepsia? 
if  so,  why  send  patients  to  the  salt  water,  or  some 
fashionable  place  of  resort?  Perhaps  we  must 
admit  that  the  four  thousand  years'  experience  and 
study  of  the  learned  and  wise  have  made  the  dis- 
covery that  brimstone  will  cure  the  itch  some- 
times ;  but  we  are  not  quite  sure  that  this  discov- 
ery was  not  made  by  some  old  lady  ! 

The  reason  why  so  much  unwearied  effort,  so 
much  experimenting,  so  much  hard  study  and 
close  thinking,  as  has  been  bestowed  on  this  sub- 
ject, has  not  led  to  the  discovery  of  a  cure  for 
disease,  is  that,  in  their  eagerness  to  grasp  some 
mysterious  theory,  far  above  the  comprehension 
of  the  unlearned,  to  discover  some  far-fetched  and 
dear-bought  remedy  ;  they  have  overlooked  plain, 
simple  truth,  that  lies  directly  in  their  path,  over 
which  they  have  stumbled  into  darkness  and  error. 


70  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

They  have  trampled  under  feet  the  simple  plants 
of  nature's  garden,  and  ransacked  the  bowels  of 
the  earth  for  poisons  that  would  operate  scientifi- 
cally. But  so  long  as  the  physical  system  is  un- 
der the  control  of  established  laws,  so  long  will 
such  remedies  fail  to  accomplish  the  object  of 
medical  science,  viz.  to  prevent  and  cure  disease. 

We  have  said  that  disease  was  obstructed  or  di- 
minished vital  action,  exhibiting  different  symp- 
toms, according  to  the  extent  of  the  obstruction, 
the  importance  of  the  organs  affected,  and  the 
vigor  of  constitution,  &c.,  caused  by  a  violation 
of  the  physical  laws  of  our  natures ;  the  effects  of 
which  are  fever,  consumption,  rheumatism,  &c. 

One  or  more  of  the  following  indications  should 
be  accomplished  in  the  cure  of  every  form  of 
disease,  viz..  relaxation,  contraction,  stimulation, 
soothing,  nutrition,  and  neutralization.  These 
indications  assist  nature  in  her  efforts  to  remove 
obstructions,  and  regain  lost  energy. 

The  only  remedial  agents  necessary  to  be  used 
in  the  cure  of  any  form  of  disease,  are  those  that 
are  innocent  in  themselves,  acting  in  harmony 
with  the  laws  of  nature. 

In  order  to  make  the  subject  plain,  simple,  and 
intelligible  to  all,  we  shall  give  a  description  of 
the  roots,  plants,  barks,  and  other  remedial  agents 
and  processes  used  in  accomplishing  the  necessary 
indications,  under  the  head  of  "  MATERIA  MEDICA  ;" 
also  a  description  of  a  general  process  adapted  to 
the  cure  of  nearly  every  form  of  disease,  with 
some  variations ;  usually  termed  a  "  COURSE  OF 
MEDICINE."  And  for  the  satisfaction  of  those  who 
may  expect  to  find  each  form  of  disease,  as  classed 
by  regular  physicians,  treated  upon  separately,  we 
will  do  so  in  a  brief  but  plain  manner. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  71 

CHAPTER  VII. 

MATERIA    MEDICA. 

Having  mentioned  the  indications  necessary  to 
be  accomplished  in  the  cure  of  different  forms 
of  disease,  we  will  now  describe  the  articles  cal- 
culated to  answer  each  of  these  indications,  and 
arrange  them  under  their  appropriate  heads.  It 
will  not  be  necessary  for  us  to  describe  all  the 
remedies  that  might  be  used,  but  only  such  as  are 
the  best,  and  will  accomplish  the  object  in  the 
shortest  time.  This  course  will  reduce  our  Mate- 
ria  Medica  to  a  small  compass,  but  sufficiently  ex- 
tensive to  answer  all  practical  purposes.  A  few 
simple  remedies,  properly  applied,  will  do  all  to 
cure  disease  that  ever  medicine  was  ever  designed 
to  do ;  air,  exercise,  diet,  bathing,  &c.,  must  do 
the  remainder,  and  they  will  often  do  more  alone 
for  the  cure  of  disease  than  all  other  remedial 
agents. 

The  following  classification  of  remedies  has 
been  adopted,  in  conformity  with  the  theory  advo- 
cated in  this  work.  Under  each  head  we  shall 
mention  those  articles  that  may  be  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  those  we  have  described. 

Lobelia  inflata, 


Crawley  root,  &c. 
f  Cayenne, 

Ginger, 

General  Stimulants.  <  Prickly  ash, 
Pennyroyal, 
'^Canada  snakeroot,  &c. 
7 


.Bitter 4 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

Bayberry, 
Betbroot, 
Sumach, 

Astringent.  ^  Red  raspberry, 
Witch  hazel, 
Hemlock  bark, 

TONICS.  4  White  pond  lily. 

"Golden  seal, 
Poplar  bark, 
Balmony, 
Unicorn  root, 
Winter  green, 
Gum  myrrh. 

f  Bitter  root, 
I  Dandelion  root, 
Laxatives  .....  <  Butternut, 
I  Cayenne, 
l^Boneset. 

Ctueen  of  the  meadow, 
Cleavers, 

Strawberry  leaves, 
Elder  bark, 
Coolwort, 
w  Burdock  root,  &c, 

Lobelia, 
Skunk  cabbage, 
j  Pleurisy  root, 
Expectorants.  .  .  ^  Hoarhound, 

Boneset, 
Cayenne. 

f  Cayenne,  red  pepper, 
,  Rubef  orients.  .  .  <  Oil  of  hemlock, 

cedar, 


Diuretics .... 


«    « 


LOBELIA. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  73 


f  Lady's  slipper, 
Nervines  ........  <(  Scullcap, 


(Slippery  elm, 
£&, 
Buck-horn  brake. 


RE  LAX  ANTS. 

Relaxaiits  are  those  substances  that  have  the 
power  of  relaxing  muscular  fibre,  and  alleviating 
spasm.  The  best  and  most  powerful  is  LOBELIA 
INFLATA. 

LOBELIA  INFLATA. 

Common  names— INDIAN  TOBACCO,  PUKE-WEED,  EYE- 
BRIGHT,  &c. 

Lobelia  Inflata  is  a  common  herb,  growing 
plentifully  in  pastures,  stubble  fields,  by  the  road 
sides,  and  on  the  banks  of  streams,  in  almost  every 
part  of  the  United  States.  It  is  a  biennial  plant, 
growing  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches  high,  much 
branched.  The  flowers  are  palish  blue,  succeeded 
by  pods,  or  seed-vessels,  which  contain  a  multi- 
tude of  brownish  and  very  minute  seeds.  It 
blooms  about  the  middle  of  July,  at  which  time 
the  herb  should  be  gathered  for  tincture  ;  but  the 
seed  should  not  be  gathered  until  the  month  of 
September,  or  October. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Lobelia,  when  first  ta- 
ken into  the  mouth,  is  nearly  insipid,  but  soon 
produces  a  burning,  acrid  sensation  upon  the  back 
part  of  the  tongue  and  palate,  attended  with  a  flow 
of  saliva.  The  plant  yields  readily  its  medical 
7* 


.74  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

qualities  to  water  and  alcohol,  and  may  be  pre- 
served and  used  in  a  fluid  state. 

Lobelia  is  the  most  powerful,  certain,  and  harm- 
less relaxant  that  has  ever  been  discovered ;  and 
as  relaxation  is  an  important  indication  in  the  cure 
of  the  majority  of  the  various  forms  of  disease, 
this  article  is  almost  indispensable  in  the  Thom- 
sonian  Materia  Medica. 

"  The  true  therapeutic  action  of  lobelia/'  says 
Dr.  Curtis,  "  I  think  is  not  generally  understood. 
Most  persons  are  under  the  impression  that  it  is 
the  principal  agent  in  producing  the  action  which 
we  call  vomiting.  But  this  must  certainly  be  in- 
correct. All  practitioners,  regular  and  irregular, 
who  habitually  use  it,  agree  that  its  effect  is  anti- 
spasmodic,  as  it  instantly  relieves  cramps,  spasms, 
fits,  lock-jaw,  &c.,  and  relaxes  contracted  sinews. 
It  is  also  agreed  that  vomiting  is  produced  by 
muscular  contraction,  either  of  the  chest,  abdomen, 
or  stomach j  or  all  combined.  If  this  were  the 
effect  of  the  irritation  produced  by  lobelia,  that 
article  would  not  be,  as  it  certainly  is,  a  sovereign 
remedy  for  spasms.  Where  there  is  no  disease, 
that  is,  debility  of  the  organs,  the  lobelia  has  not 
the  power  to  relax  the  system  much,  and  hence 
there  is  no  room  for  any  remarkable  degree  of  re- 
action, and  of  course  there  is  little  or  no  vomiting. 
'  But,'  says  one,  '  are  you  sure  that  lobelia  possesses 
no  other  control  over  the  living  body,  than  simply 
to  relax  its  several  organs  ?'  I  answer,  not  quite 
sure ;  but  am  perfectly  convinced  that,  if  it  have 
fifty  other  influences,  this  one  of  relaxation  so  far 
predominates  over  them  all,  as  to  throw  them  en- 
tirely into  the  shade.  l  But  is  not  lobelia  a  sudor- 
ific ?'  Yes  ;  but  its  mode  of  producing  this  effect 
is  by  relaxing,  through  nervous  action,  the  con- 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  75 

tracted  mouths  of  the  emunctories  or  pores  of  the 
skin,  and  letting  off  the  portion  of  the  blood  called 
perspiration.  It  also  promotes  the  secretion  of  the 
bile  and  urine,  by  relaxing  vessels  whose  unnatu- 
ral constriction  is  the  cause  of  the  retention  of 
these  fluids."  "  Lobelia  is  to  be  considered,  at  all 
times,  and  under  all  circumstances,  and  wherever 
applied,  not  only  a  pure  relaxant,  but  the  most 
powerful  and  innocent  yet  known.  This  fact  puts 
to  flight  from  obstetrics  the  use  of  instruments, 
and  even  manual  force,  in  every  case  except  per- 
haps the  few  patients  whose  pelves  are  known  to 
be  remarkably  deformed  by  rickets  or  some  other 
unfortunate  circumstance.'7 

Some  have  been  led  to  suppose,  in  consequence 
of  what  appeared  to  them  the  alarming  effects  of 
lobelia,  in  cases  where  there  is  but  little  vitality, 
or  it  is  improperly  administered,  that  it  is  a  poi- 
son, the  administration  of  which  is  very  danger- 
ous. But  nothing  can  be  farther  from  the  truth. 

In  proof  that  lobelia  is  not  a  poison,  we  shall 
adduce  the  testimony  of  some  of  the  most  enlight- 
ened professors  and  practitioners  of  medicine  of 
the  present  age. 

Says  Prof.  Tully,  of  Yale  College,  New  Haven, 
in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Lee,  "  I  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  employing  lobelia  inflata  for  twenty-seven  years, 
and  of  witnessing  its  employment  by  others  for 
the  same  length  of  time,  and  in  large  quantities, 
and  for  a  long  period,  without  the  least  trace  of 
any  narcotic  effect.  I  have  used  the  very  best 
officinal  tincture  in  the  quantity  of  three  fluid 
ounces  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  for  seven  days 
in  succession :  and  I  have  likewise  given  three 
large  table-spoonfuls  of  it  within  half  an  hour, 
without  the  least  indication  of  any  narcotic  opera- 


76  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

tion.  I  have  likewise  given  it  in  substance,  and 
in  other  forms,  and  still  without  any  degree  of 
this  operation.  *  *  *  I  am  confident  (the  old 
women's  stories  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,) 
that  lobelia  inflata  is  a  valuable,  a  safe,  and  a  suf- 
ficiently gentle  article  of  medicine." 
j  Here  is  the  testimony  of  a  celebrated  professor 
of  Yale  College,  who  had  ample  opportunity  of 
judging,  from  experience  and  observation,  whether 
lobelia  was  a  poison  or  not. 

<  Says  Prof.  Waterhouse,  of  Harvard  University, 
Cambridge,  "  The  efficacy  and  safety  of  lobelia 
inflata,  I  have  had  ample  and  repeated  proofs  of, 
in  a  number  of  cases,  and  on  my  own  person,  and 
have  reason  to  value  it  equal  with  any  article  in 
our  Materia  Medica." 

Says  Dr.  Thomas  Hersey,  surgeon  in  the  United 
States  army  in  the  last  war,  practising  physician 
and  surgeon  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  "  The  lobelia  in- 
flata has  been  denounced  as  a  deadly  poison.  The 
imposition  intended  to  be  practised  by  such  an 
assertion,  is  too  notorious  to  merit  a  serious  reply. 
I  have  administered  lobelia  successfully  to  the 
child  of  thirty  minutes,  and  to  the  hoary  adult  of 
eighty  years  of  age,  and  never  knew  any  danger 
result  from  its  use." 

j  We  could  bring  forward  the  testimony  of  thou- 
sands of  others,  who  have  used  lobelia  for  five, 
ten,  twenty,  and  some  forty  years,  in  proof  that  it 
is  perfectly  innocent,  acting  in  harmony  with  the 
laws  of  life  and  motion.  Those  who  have  assert- 
ed that  lobelia  is  poison,  have,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten,  without  any  doubt,  been  such  persons  as 
never  used  it,  or  saw  it  used,  and  therefore  their 
testimony  is  not  to  be  depended  on. 

"But  lobelia,"    says  Dr.  Peckham,    "is  some- 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  77 

times  given  when  the  vitality  of  the  system  is  so 
nearly  extinguished  by  disease,  that  little  or  no 
effect  is  obtained  from  it.  Nature  is  exhausted, 
though  the  spark  of  life  be  not  quite  extinct. 
Death  will  take  place,  and  the  lobelia  may  be  re- 
tained, and  a  like  result  would  have  followed  if 
so  much  warm  water  had  been  taken.  If  nature 
be  wanting,  the  best  remedial  process  will  be  ex- 
hibited in  vain.  She  may  be  assisted  to  a  certain 
extent  to  save  life ;  but  she  has  her  bounds,  and 
she  declares  that  thus  far  shalt  thou  come,  and  no 
farther,  and  here  shall  thy  remedial  waves  be 
stayed.  But  because  lobelia  cannot  go  beyond 
these  bounds,  and  save  life  where  nature,  in  her 
omnipotence,  has  declared  that  life  should  no 
longer  be,  such  deaths  are  laid  at  the  door  of  this 
herb,  and  it  is  made  answerable  for  a  wrongly 
imputed  sin." 

The  different  modes  of  preparing  and  adminis- 
tering lobelia,  will  be  given  under  the  head  of', 
compounds  and  course  of  medicine. 

CRAWLEY,  OR  FEVER  ROOT. 

This  plant  occupies  high,  sandy  banks,  in  sandy 
woods.  The  leaves  spring  forth  all  around  the 
bottom  of  the  stem,  at  the  top  of  the  root.  The 
stock  rises  from  six  to  eight  inches  high,  bear- 
ing yellow  blossoms.  The  upper  side  exhibits  a 
smooth,  dark  green  surface ;  underneath  they  have 
a  silvery  appearance.  The  roots  are  of  a  dark 
brown  or  blackish  color,  are  tender,  and  easily 
broken,  resembling  the  claw  of  the  dunghill  fowl. 
It  grows  plentifully  in  almost  all  the  United  States. 
i  PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  pulverized  root  of 
this  plant  composes  the  fever  powder,  so  often  re- 


78  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

commended  in  Dr.  Elisha  Smith's  botanical  work, 
It  is  not  commonly  known  among  botanical  prac- 
titioners, and  as  we  have  not  sufficiently  tested  it 
ourself,  shall  depend  on  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Smith, 
of  New  York.  "It  is,"  says  he,  "a  powerful 
febrifuge,  and  an  agreeable  anodyne.  I  have  found 
it  a  sure  and  quick  medicine  to  excite  perspiration, 
without  increasing  the  heat  of  the  body.  This 
root  is  effectual  in  all  remittent,  typhus,  nervous, 
and  inflammatory  fevers,  and  will  relieve  cramps, 
constrictions,  and  all  pains  caused  by  colds,  &c. 
It  produces  a  general  relaxation  of  the  system, 
equalizes  the  circulation,  and  brings  a  moisture  on 
the  surface.  It  is  an  excellent  medicine  in  pleu- 
risy, inflammation  of  the  chest  and  brain,  and  is  a 
sure  remedy  in  erysipelatous  inflammation." 

"  Pulverize  the  root  fine,  sift  it,  and  put  it  in 
bottles  well  stopped  from  the  air.  After  proper 
evacuation  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  a  small 
tea-spoonful  of  this  powder  may  be  given  every 
twenty  minutes,  in  a  little  pennyroyal  or  other 
herb  tea,  till  a  gentle  breathing  moisture  appears 
on  the  skin,  or  till  from  four  to  six  are  taken, 
jwhich  has  never  failed  in  my  practice  of  answer- 
ing the  purpose." 

BONESET.-— 7%e  Leaves  and  Flowers. 

This  plant  is  also  called  thoroughwort,  Indian 
Sage,  feverwort,  sweating  plant,  &c.  It  grows 
plentifully  in  almost  every  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  may  be  found  in  meadows  and  in  low, 
moist  land.  It  grows  from  two  to  five  feet  high, 
branched  at  the  top.  The  leaves  are  the  broadest 
.where  they  are  connected  with  the  stock,  and  ta- 
per off  each  way  to  a  point.  It  remains  in  bloom 


THOROUGHWORT. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  79 

• 

from  August  to  October.  The  flowers  are  of  a 
dullish-white  color,  and  are  found  on  the  top  of 
the  stem  and  branches.  It  should  be  collected 
when  in  bloom,  and  carefully  dried. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  warm  infusion  of 
boneset,  in  large  doses,  operates  as  an  emetic  ;  ilx 
small  doses  it  produces  perspiration,  and  promotes 
all  the  secretions.  The  decoction,  administered 
cold,  is  both  laxative  and  tonic.  It  acts  as  a  gen-* 
tie  laxative  without  irritating  the  bowels.  Many 
families  use  the  boneset  alone  in  the  cure  of  every 
form  of  disease,  and  are  seldom  disappointed  in 
the  result.  There  is  no  article  in  the  Materia 
Medica  more  general  in  its  application  that  bone- 
set,  either  the  infusion  or  decoction ;  it  being  a 
relaxant,  sudorific,  antiseptic,  stimulant,  diuretic, 
and  tonic. 

DOSE. — To  produce  vomiting,  take  two  ounces 
steeped  in  a  quart  of  water,  but  not  boil ;  drink  a 
cupful  every  fifteen  minutes  until  it  operates.  — 
For  sweating,  take  the  same  in  small  doses,  often 
repeated  ;  for  a  tonic  and  laxative,  drink  a  cupful 
of  the  decoction  once  in  two  hours. 


STIMULANTS. 

Stimulants  are  substances  capable  of  increasing 
the  action  or  energy  of  the  living  body.  Pure, 
diffusable  stimulants  act  in  harmony  with  the  laws 
of  life,  and  therefore  assist  nature  in  her  efforts  to 
overcome  disease  ;  while  acrid  and  narcotic  stimu- 
lants produce  local  irritation,  exhausting  the  pow- 
ers of  nature.  The  most  pure  and  healthy  stimu- 
lant is  Cayenne. 
8 


80  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

• 

C A  YENNE .     Capsicum . —  The  Pods  and  Seed-  Vessels. 

The  Cayenne  most  commonly  used  by  Thom- 
sonians  is  imported  from  Africa  and^  the  West  In- 
dies, being  more  permanent  and  gently  stimulat- 
ing than  the  American  Cayenne.  It  is  somewhat 
difficult  to  get  a  pure  article,  such  is  the  propen- 
sity to  defraud  for  gain.  The  African  Cayenne  is 
frequently  mixed  with  a  cheaper  kind,  called 
Bombay,  or  chilly  peppers.  Even  those  who  pro- 
fess to  be  friends  of  the  Thomsonian  system,  have 
been  known  to  mix  Indian  meal,  ginger,  red  lead, 
logAvood,  &c.,  with  pure  Cayenne,  when  grinding 
it,  and  color  it  with  dye-stuffs  and  red  saunders. 

Capsicum  annuum,  (Cayenne,)  says  Hooper,  "is 
one  of  the  strongest  and  purest  stimulants  known. 
This  pepper  has  been  successfully  employed  in  a 
species  of  the  cynanche  maligna,  (putrid  sore 
throat,)  which  proved  very  fatal  in  the  West  In- 
dies, resisting  the  use  of  the  Peruvian  bark,  wine, 
and  other  remedies  commonly  employed.  In  oph- 
thalmia from  relaxation,  the  diluted  juice  is  found 
to  be  a  valuable  remedy." 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Cayenne  is  the  purest 
and  undoubtedly  the  most  powerful  stimulant 
known,  and  as  stimulation  is  an  important  indica- 
tion to  be  accomplished  in  nearly  every  form  of 
disease,  this  invaluable  article  is  among  the  indis- 
pensables.  Taken  into  the  mouth,  it  produces  a 
pungent,  biting  sensation ;  and  if  taken  in  large 
quantities  into  an  empty  stomach,  it  will  frequent- 
ly occasion  considerable  distress,  so  as  to  be  alarm- 
ing to  those  unacquainted  with  it.  This  is  at- 
tended with  no  danger,  as  it  will  soon  pass  away. 
It  should  always  be  given  in  small  doses  at  first, 
increasing  the  quantity  according  to  the  emergency 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  Ql 

of  the  case.  The  burning  sensation  produced  by 
Cayenne  may  be  relieved  by  taking  or  applying  a 
small  quantity  of  milk  or  cream.  Cayenne  may 
be  used  with  advaritage  in  all  cases  of  coldness, 
debility,  indigestion,  costiveness,  and  in  combina- 
tion with  other  medicines  in  nearly  every  form  of 
disease  to  which  mankind  are  subject. 

DOSE. — From  one  fourth  to  a  whole  tea-spoon- 
ful in  hot  water,  if  designed  to  produce  perspira- 
tion ;  if  for  costiveness,  one  half  tea-spoonful  in 
cold  water  or  molasses  three  or  four  times  a  day. 

GINGER.— r/te  Root. 

Ginger  is  obtained  from  the  East  and  West  In- 
dies. It  is  a  perennial  shrub,  growing  about  three 
feet  high.  Care  should  be  observed  in  purchasing 
it,  as  it  is  generally  mixed  with  other  articles. 
For  medicine,  it  is  better  to  purchase  the  root 
unpulverized. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Ginger  is  warming  and 
moderately  aromatic,  and  may  be  used  in  mild  cases 
as  a  substitute  for  Cayenne.  It  is  used  principally 
in  combination  with  other  articles,  and  externally 
for  poultices. 

DOSE. — From  a  half  to  a  whole  tea-spoonful  in 
warm  water,  sweetened. 

PRICKLY  ASH.—  The  Bark  and  Seed-Vessels. 

This  shrub  is  found  in  the  Southern,  Middle, 
and  Western  States,  growing  in  rich  and  com- 
monly wettish  soil,  to  the  height  of  from  ten  to 
fifteen  feet.  The  bark  is  of  an  ash  color,  leaves 
somewhat  similar  to  those  of  the  elder.  The 
branches  are  usually  prickly,  from  which  it  derives 
its  most  popular  name.  The  seed-vessels  are 


82  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

greenish  red ;  in  the  autumn  they  assume  a  brown- 
ish color. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  seed-vessels  have 
a  warm,  pungent  taste,  and  are  an  excellent  stim- 
ulant ;  the  bark  of  the  stem  and  root  are  also  pun- 
gent, but  in  an  inferior  degree.  It  is  a  valuable 
remedy  in  all  cases  where  stimulants  are  required, 
as  rheumatism,  cold  hands  and  feet,  ague  and  fever, 
&c.  The  bark  is  sometimes  chewed  for  the  tooth- 
ache. 

PENNYROYAL.— The  Herb. 

This  plant,  which  the  God  of  nature  has  scat- 
tered over  almost  every  part  of  this  country,  is  one 
of  the  most  valuable  of  the  Thorn sonian  Materia 
Medica.  Its  qualities  are  a  strong  and  hardly 
aromatic  but  pleasant  smell,  a  warm  and  pungent 
taste.  The  medical  principle  resides  in  an  essen- 
tial oil,  possessing  the  same  smell  and  taste  of  the 
herb.  Its  medical  properties  are  carminative,  (hav- 
ing power  to  remove  wind  from  the  stomach  and 
bowels,)  stimulant,  (possessing  the  property  of  ex- 
citing increased  action  in  the  system,)  diaphoretic, 
(promoting  moderate  perspiration. )  It  also  relieves 
spasms,  hysterics,  promotes  expectoration  in  con- 
sumptive coughs,  and  is  a  good  medicine  in  the 
whooping  cough.  It  is  good  also  to  take  away 
marks  and  bruises  in  the  face,  being  bruised  in 
vinegar,  and  applied  in  fomentations. 

A  tea  of  this  plant  is  perhaps  the  best  drink 
that  can  be  given,  together  with  the  composition 
powder,  Cayenne,  &c.,  to  warm  the  stomach,  and 
assist  an  emetic  in  its  operations.  The  tea  should 
be  made  and  given  warm,  freely  and  frequently. 
A  person  upon  taking  a  "  bad  cold,"  (by  the  way, 
he  never  has  a  good  one,)  by  taking  freely  of  this 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  93 

tea  may  throw  it  off,  and  of  course  prevent  fever, 
it  being  caused  by  cold.  This  is  a  popular  reme- 
dy all  over  the  country  for  female  complaints ; 
but  still  few  persons  are  aware  of  its  extensive 
medicinal  properties. 

The  best  time  for  gathering  this  herb  is  about 
the  month  of  August.  It  should  be  tied  up  in 
bundles,  and  hung  in  a  warm,  dry,  and  shady  place 
until  dry ;  then  wrapped  in  paper,  as  the  best  means 
of  excluding  the  air,  by  which,  if  exposed,  it  will 
lose  a  large  part  of  its  strength  and  virtue.  This 
plant,  simple  as  it  is,  will  do  more  in  the  curing 
of  the  sick  than  all  the  poisonous  preparations  in- 
vented since  the  age  of  Paracelsus ;  bleeding  and 
blistering  into  the  bargain.  No  family  should  let 
the  season  for  gathering  it  pass  without  securing 
a  good  supply. 

CANADA  SNAKEROOT.— The  Root. 

This  plant  is  found  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
United  States,  particularly  in  the  Northern  and 
Eastern  States,  in  the  woods,  and  dry,  shady  places. 
The  root  only  is  used. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — This  is  a  pleasant, 
warming  stimulant  and  nervine.  It  is  very  use- 
ful in  all  affections  of  the  lungs,  as  colds,  asthma, 
croup,  consumption,  &c.  The  ordinary  dose  is  a 
moderate  tea-spoonful,  which  may  be  taken  in 
warm  water  sweetened.  A  decoction  with  saffron 
is  excellent  to  give  children  when  attacked  with 
any  eruptire  form  of  disease. 

Black  pepper,  cinnamon,  tansy,  red  pepper,  bay- 
berry,  yarrow,  &c.,  may  also  be  used  where  stim- 
ulants are  required. 
8* 


84  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

ASTRINGENTS. 

Astringents  are  those  substances  that,  when 
taken  internally  or  applied  externally,  contract  the 
'muscular  tissue,  or  make  it  more  dense  and  firm. 
They  depend  for  their  astringency  on  tannin,  a 
'substance  well  known  as  being  used  in  the  tan- 
king of  leather. 

I  BAYBERRY. 

This  shrub  grows  most  plentifully  in  towns  bor- 
'dering  on  the  sea,  although  it  is  found  in  the  in- 
terior, in  neglected  fields,  and  on  the  side  of  stony 
Chills.  It  grows  in  the  New  England  States  from 
three  to  five  feet  high,  and  bears  small  berries,  of 
\vhich  candles  are  sometimes  manufactured,  com- 
bined with  tallow. 

The  bark  of  the  root  is  the  only  part  used  for 
medicinal  purposes,  and  should  be  gathered  in  the 
spring  before  the  bush  vegetates,  or  in  the  autumn 
before  it  has  shed  its  foliage,  as  the  sap  is  then  in 
the  bark,  and  consequently  possesses  a  greater  de- 
gree of  medical  virtues.  The  roots  should  be  dug 
and  thoroughly  cleansed  from  dirt,  and  while  green 
the  rind  may  be  easily  separated  from  the  trunk 
"by  pounding  it  with  a  wooden  mallet ;  after 
which,  dry  the  bark  well,  and  pulverize  it  to  the 
consistency  of  ordinary  flour,  and  it  is  then  ready 
for  use. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Bayberry  is  both  astrin- 
gent and  stimulant,  producing  a  pungent  sensation 
upon  the  glands ;  it  is  therefore  an  invaluable 
medicine  for  canker,  whether  located  in  the  mouth, 
throat,  stomach,  or  bowels.  It  is  an  excellent 
article  for  bowel  complaints,  and  if  given  freely  in 
the  commencement,  will  generally  cure.  It  makes 


BAYBERRY. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  $5 

an  excellent  tooth-powder  to  cleanse  the  mouth 
and  gums.  There  are  many  other  articles  useful 
for  canker,  but  bayberry  is  decidedly  the  best. 

DOSE. — It  may  be  used  either  in  the  powder, 
about  a  tea-spoonful  at  a  dose,  by  mixing  a  little 
sugar  and  warm  water  to  it,  or  making  an  infu- 
sion, and  drinking  freely  of  the  tea, 

BETHROOT.— The  Root, 

The  bethroot  is  found  in  damp,  rocky  woods, 
delighting  in  a  rich  soil,  and  grows  from  one  to 
two  feet  high,  surmounted  at  the  top  with  three 
leaves.  It  blooms  in  the  month  of  May,  bearing 
a  white  flower. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  bethroot  being  an 
astringent,  is  useful  in  all  kinds  of  hemorrhage, 
immoderate  menstruation,  diarrhoea,  dysentery, 
fluor  albus.  flooding,  &c. 

DOSE. — The  pulverized  root  may  be  taken  in 
tea-spoonful  doses,  or  it  may  be  steeped,  one  ounce 
to  the  pint,  and  given  in  gill  doses. 

SUMACH. —  The  Bark,  Leaves,  and  Berries. 

The  common  upland  sumach  rises  to  the  height 
of  from  five  to  ten  feet,  producing  many  long 
compound  leaves,  which  turn  red  in  autumn.  The 
berries  are  also  red  when  ripe,  and  are  of  an  agree- 
able, but  very  sharp,  acid  taste.  The  bark,  leaves, 
and  berries  are  astringents,  tonics,  and  diuretics ; 
either  of  which  may  be  used  in  strong  decoction 
in  all  cases  in  which  medicines  of  this  class  are 
needed. 


$G  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

WHITE  POND  LILY.— The  Root     ' 

This  herb  grows  in  low  wet  grounds,  and  ponds 
and  pools  of  water,  as  indicated  by  its  name. 

The  leaves  are  large,  round,  and  cleft  from  the 
edge  to  the  stem  in  the  centre,  each  lobe  or  por- 
tion of  the  leaf  ending  in  a  short,  acute  point ;  the 
upper  surface  being  smooth,  glassy,  and  without 
veins,  and  the  lower  surface  reddish,  with  branch- 
ing nerves. 

The  flowers  are  large  and  white,  giving  out  a 
very  delicious,  sweet  odor ;  opening  to  the  sun  in 
the  morning,  and  closing  at  night  with  the  setting 
of  the  sun. 

The  root,  which  is  the  part  used  as  medicine, 
is  perennial,  very  long,  somewhat  hairy,  blackish, 
knotty,  and  nearly  as  large  as  a  man's  wrist.  It 
is  a  valuable  article,  used  internally  or  externally. 
Internally,  it  is  a  mild  astringent  tonic,  very  use- 
ful in  dysentery,  diarrhoea,  &c.  Externally,  it  is 
used  in  poultices  for  biles,  tumors,  inflamma- 
tions, &c. 

The  powdered  root  given  in  tea-spoonful  doses 
in  warm  water  sweetened,  is  almost  a  sure  remedy 
for  bowel  complaints  in  children,  if  given  in  the 
first  stages. 

It  is  said  that  the  fresh  juice  of  the  root,  mixed 
with  the  juice  of  the  lemon,  will  remove  freckles, 
pimples,  blotches,  &c.  from  the  skin. 

An  infusion  of  the  root  is  good  for  sore  or  in- 
flamed eyes. 

RED  RASPBERRY.— The  Leaves. 

The  red  raspberry  is  so  well  known  that  it 
needs  no  description.  The  leaves  are  a  valuable 
astringent,  useful  in  bowel  complaints,  and  for  ex- 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  gy 

ternal  applications  to  moisten  poultices  for  burns, 
&c.,  and  for  washing  sore  nipples.  A  strong  tea 
is  an  excellent  article,  says  Dr.  Thomson,  to  regu- 
late the  labor  pains  of  women  in  travail. 

WITCH  HAZEL.— The  Leaves. 

This  shrub  grows  on  high  lands  and  the  stony 
banks  of  streams,  from  New  England  to  Carolina 
and  Ohio,  from  eight  to  ten  feet  high. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Astringent,  stimulant, 
and  slightly  bitter.  This  is  the  best  article  in  our 
Materia  Medica,  says  Dr.  Curtis,  for  stopping  he- 
morrhage. We  have  used  it  in  hemorrhage  from 
the  lungs,  stomach,  and  other  parts  of  the  system, 
and  have  not  yet  seen  a  failure.  A  strong  decoc- 
tion, drunk  and  used  by  injection  "per  vagina" 
is  the  best  article  we  have  ever  used  for  profuse 
menstruation,  fluor  albus,  or  uterine  hemorrhage. 

HEMLOCK  —The  Bark. 

This  is  a  well-known  astringent,  being  com- 
monly employed  in  tanning  leather.  A  decoction 
of  the  bark  is  useful  given  by  injection  for  bowel 
complaints,  and  for  the  piles.  Applied  to  sore 
nipples  it  is  a  never-failing  remedy.  The  oil  com- 
bined with  other  articles  makes  a  valuable  article 
for  bathing  in  rheumatism,  &c. 

Black  birch,  red  and  white  oak  bark,  evan  root, 
marsh  rosemary,  hardback,  and  yarrow,  are  also 
valuable  astringents. 


88  i  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

TONICS. 

Tonics  are  those  substances,  that  when  applied 
to  the  living  body,  increase  the  strength  by  ren- 
dering the  muscular  tissue  firmer  and  more  com- 
pact. They  should  usually  be  combined  with 
stimulants,  unless  they  possess  a  stimulant  pro- 
perty, 

GOLDEN  SEAL.— The  Root. 

Golden  seal  grows  in  great  abundance  in  Ohio 
and  the  Western  and  Southern  States,  but  is  sel- 
dom found  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern.  It  is 
sometimes  called  Ohio  kucuma,  yellow  puccoon, 
&c.  The  root  is  one  or  two  inches  long,  and  rough 
or  knotted,  giving  off  a  number  of  yellow  fibres. 
It  grows  from  one  to  two  feet  high  in  rich,  shady 
moist  lands. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Bitter,  stimulant  and 
tonic.  It  is  useful  in  all  cases  of  debility,  indi- 
gestion, &c.  Combined  with  one  part  Cayenne 
and  one  fourth  part  saleratus,  it  will  aid  digestion, 
and  prevent  pain  in  the  stomach  after  eating.  A 
strong  decoction  is  excellent  to  wash  sore  eyes  and 
all  old  sores. 

POPLAR.-  The  Bark. 

This  noble  tree,  which  is  found  throughout  the 
United  States,  is  so  well  known  that  it  needs  no 
description.  It  is  the  common  white  poplar  of 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  Its  qualities  are, 
bitter,  diuretic,  and  astringent — it  is  also  a  tonic, 
and  somewhat  stimulant.  It  is  a  first-rate  article 
for  indigestion,  canker  in  the  stomach,  consump- 
tion, liver  complaints ;  also  in  diarrhoea!  affections 
and  other  complaints,  occasioned  by  debility — 


SNAKEHEAD. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  $g 

acting  as  a  universal  tonic  ;  restoring  the  tone  of 
the  organs,  and  producing  a  healthy  action  of  the 
liver  j  creating  an  appetite,  and  giving  strength 
and  vigor  to  the  whole  system.  Poplar  bark  is 
perhaps  the  most  universally  applicable  tonic  of 
Dr.  Th3mson's  Materia  Medica.  It  possesses  val- 
uable febrifuge  qualities,  and  on  account  of  its 
diuretic  qualities,  it  is  a  good  article  in  gravel  and 
dropsy.  Dr.  J.  Young  says,  "  I  have  prescribed 
the  poplar  bark  in  a  variety  of  cases  of  intermit- 
tent fever,  and  can  declare  from  experience  that  & 
is  equally  efficacious  with  the  Peruvian  bark,  if 
properly  administered.  There  is  not,"  says  he, 
"  in  all  the  Materia  Medica,  a  more  certain,  speedy 
and  effectual  remedy  in  hysterics  than  the  poplar 
bark."  This,  let  it  be  remembered,  is  "  regular'7 
testimony.  This  article  should  be  used  in  com- 
bination with  other  articles  forming  "  bitters,"  after 
the  system  is  cleansed  with  courses  of  medicine, 
and  all  morbific  matter  expelled — the  system  is 
then  ready  to  receive  medicines  of  a  strengthen- 
ing character.  The  mode  of  procuring  the  bark 
is  to  strip  it  from  the  tree,  any  time  when  the  sap 
prevents  it  from  adhering  to  the  wood.  The  outer 
bark  should  be  shaved  off;  the  inner  cut  into 
strips  and  dried  in  the  shade.  The  mode  of  ad- 
ministering it  is  to  infuse  it  in  water — an  ounce 
of  the  bark  to  a  pint  of  water,  and  give  freely. 

BALMONY.— The  Herb. 

This  herb  is  found  in  low,  damp  places,  and 
rich  shaded  soils,  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
It  is  called  bitter  herb,  snake  head,  &c.  Tht 
flowers  are  reddish  white,  and  grow  in  clusters, 
and  do  not  bloom  until  late  in  autumn. 


90  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH, 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Thib  herb  is  an  excel- 
lent bitter  tonic  and  laxative,  and  is  useful  in  cos- 
tiveness,  dyspepsia,  loss  of  appetite,  &c.  It  is  an 
important  ingredient  in  the  Spiced  Bitters.  It 
may  be  given  in  a  tea — drank  freely  for  worms  in 
children,  or  jaundice,  yellowness  of  the  skin,  &c. 

UNICORN.— The  Root. 

The  unicorn  grows  abundantly  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, New  York,  and  Connecticut,  and  may  be 
found  in  meadows  and  wood  lands.  It  is  known 
by  the  name  of  blazing  star,  devil's  bit,  &c.  It 
grows  about  a  foot  in  height,  and  terminates  in  a 
long,  graceful  spike  of  flowers,  of  a  whitish  color. 
It  blooms  in  June.  It  has  a  tapering  fibrous  root, 
which  is  an  inch  and  a  quarter  long,  and  not  quite 
so  thick  as  the  little  finger. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — It  is  a  very  excellent 
bitter  tonic  and  stimulant,  and  has  been  found 
very  useful  in  cases  of  suppressed  menstruation, 
and  whenever  a  tonic  and  stimulant  are  required. 

WINTERGREEN.— The  Root  and  Leaves. 

This  evergreen  is  found  on  pine  plains  and  in 
light  shaded  soils,  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
It  blossoms  in  midsummer.  It  is  called  pipsissi- 
way,  pyrola,  white  leaf,  &c. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  whole  plant  has 
a  pungent  and  bitter  sweet  taste.  It  is  diuretic, 
sudorific,  and  tonic.  It  is  useful  in  all  eruptive 
forms  of  disease,  and  in  cancerous  or  scrofulous 
habits.  It  is  frequently  used  in  combination  with 
other  articles  in  the  form  of  syrups.  (See  Com- 
pounds.) 


WINTER  GREEN. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  91 

GUM  MYRRH. 

This  gum  exudes  from  the  body  of  a  small  tree 
growing  in  Arabia  Felix  and  Abyssinia.  As  the 
juice  exudes,  it  hardens  and  adheres  to  the  bark. 
There  are  two  kinds  of  myrrh  to  be  found  in  the 
market — the  India  and  Turkey  myrrh  ;  the  former 
imported  from  the  East  Indies,  the  latter  from  the 
Levant.  There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  quality 
of  this  article.  The  Turkey  myrrh  is  usually  the 
most  free  from  impurities,  and  when  of  good 
quality  it  is  reddish-yellow — of  a  strong,  peculiar, 
and  somewhat  fragrant  odor,  and  a  bitter  aromatic 
taste. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Myrrh  is  a  tonic  and 
stimulant,  and  possesses  anti-septic  properties  in  a 
high  degree.  It  is  therefore  a  useful  article  in  all 
cases  of  putrescency  or  tendency  to  mortification, 
for  chronic  diarrhoea,  and  general  debility.  For  a 
dose,  take  half  a  tea-spoonful  pulverized,  in  half  a 
cup  of  warm  water,  sweetened,  and  taken  before  it 
settles.  It  constitutes  the  most  essential  ingredi- 
ent in  the  Rheumatic  Drops.  In  the  form  of 
tincture,  combined  with  the  tincture  of  lobelia, 
it  is  useful  applied  to  fresh  wounds,  eruptions,  old 
sores,  bruises,  &c. 

BARBERRY  .—The  Bark. 

This  shrub  grows  plentifully  in  the  New  Eng- 
land States,  and  is  found  usually  in  rocky  or  stony 
fields,  rising  to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten  feet. 
The  berries  are  oblong,  of  a  scarlet  color,  and  a 
sharp  acid  taste.  j 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  bark  of  barberry 
possesses  qualities  similar  to  the  golden  seal,  and 
is  frequently  used  as  a  substitute.  It  is  a  bitter 


92  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

tonic,  improving  the  appetite,  and  removing  the 
yellow  tinge  from  the  skin  and  eyes,  and  a  valua- 
ble article  to  take  in  the  spring  of  the  year  for  the 
jaundice. 

Camomile,  archangel,  elecampane,  wormwood 
and  tansey,  are  also  good  tonics. 


LAXATIVES. 

Laxatives  are  those  medicines  that  increase  the 
peristaltic  motion  of  the  bowels,  without  purging 
or  producing  a  fluid  discharge. 

BITTER  ROOT.— Bark  of  the  Root. 

Bitter  root  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  where  the  soil  is  light  and  sandy.  The 
root  is  perennial,  from  a  third  to  half  an  inch  in 
diameter,  very  long  and  intensely  bitter.  It  grows 
from  two  to  three  feet  high,  with  bell-shaped, 
white  flowers. 

j  PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Dr.  Thomson  says  in 
one  of  the  earlier  editions  of  his  work,  "  Bitter 
root  is  one  of  the  best  correctors  of  the  bile  with 
which  I  am  acquainted,  and  is  an  excellent  medi- 
cine to  remove  costiveness,  as  it  will  cause  the 
bowels  to  move  in  a  natural  manner.  A  strong 
'decoction  of  the  root,  made  by  steeping  it  in  hot 
(water,  will  operate  as  a  cathartic  if  taken  freely, 
and  sometimes  as  an  emetic,  and  is  almost  sure  to 
throw  off  a  fever  in  its  first  stages." 

It  is  a  tonic,  anti-spasmodic,  .secernent,  and 
stimulant.  Dr.  Curtis  says  he  has  found  it  an 
excellent  article  in  all  cases  of  torpidity  of  the 
lower  viscera,  particularly  of  the  liver  and  kid- 


BITTER  ROOT. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  93 

neys.  This  article  alone  has  cured  cases  of  dropsy 
that  had  baffled  all  the  skill  of  the  regular  prac- 
tice. It  will  be  found  an  important  auxiliary  to 
the  general  treatment  in  removing  obstructions 
peculiar  to  females. 

BUTTERNUT.— Inner  Baric. 

This  tree  is  too  well  known  to  need  any  de- 
scription, being  found  in  rich,  moist,  rocky  soils, 
near  streams,  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  country. 
The  inner  bark  of  the  butternut  tree,  says  How- 
ard, and  especially  of  the  root,  "  is  a  mild  and 
efficacious  purge,  leaving  the  bowels  in  a  better 
condition  perhaps  than  almost  any  other  in  use. 
In  diarrhoea,  dysentery,  and  worms,  it  is  the  best 
cathartic  we  have  ever  employed.  It  may  be  pre- 
pared in  extract,  pills,  syrup,  or  cordial.  For 
making  the  cordial,  take  any  quantity  of  the  fresh 
bark,  split  it  into  slips,  of  half  an  inch  wide,  beat 
it  with  a  hammer,  so  as  to  reduce  it  to  a  soft, 
stringy  state ;  then  put  it  into  an  earthen  vessel, 
packing  it  close,  and  pour  on  it  boiling  water  suf- 
ficient to  cover  the  bruised  bark ;  set  the  vessel  on 
coals  near  the  fire,  having  it  closely  covered,  and 
allow  it  to  stand  and  simmer  one  or  two  hours. 
Then  strain  off  the  liquor,  and  add  sugar  or  mo- 
lasses sufficient  to  make  a  syrup, — when  it  may 
be  bottled,  and  one  quarter  of  the  quantity  of 
proof  spirits  added  to  preserve  it.  Dose  for  a 
child,  from  half  to  two  great-spoonfuls,  repeated 
at  intervals  of  half  or  a  whole  hour,  until  it  ope- 
rates. For  grown  persons  the  dose  must  be  much 
larger.  This  preparation  is  mild,  but  highly  effi- 
cacious for  the  bowel  complaints  of  children  or 
adults,  and  will  cure  without  giving  enough  to 


94  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

operate  as  physic  ;  but  for  dysentery  and  worms, 
enough  should  be  administered  to  operate  freely 
on  the  bowels.  It  may  be  given  in  all  ordinary 
diseases  of  children  with  the  happiest  effect,  being 
a  most  valuable  family  medicine. 

"  The  syrup  is  made  in  a  similar  manner,  only 
it  is  boiled  down  so  as  to  make  it  much  stronger 
and  more  actively  purgative." 

DANDELION.—  The  Leaves  and  Root. 

This  plant  is  too  common  to  need  description, 
growing  almost  every  where,  on  improved  lands 
that  are  not  ploughed,  as  pastures,  meadows,  yards, 
&c. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  dandelion  is  diu- 
retic, stimulant,  tonic,  anti-spasmodic,  aperient,  and 
alterative.  It  is  therefore  useful  in  all  cases  of 
urinary  obstructions,  jaundice,  costiveness,  con- 
sumption, nervous  debility,  biliary  obstructions, 
&c.  It  should  be  used  freely  and  perseveringly, 
as  its  effects  are  gradual  but  sure  upon  the  system. 
It  may  be  used  in  the  form  of  extract  made  into 
pills,  combined  with  Cayenne  and  lobelia,  or  in 
syrup. 


DIURETICS. 

?  t    **•>'•  *       4 

Diuretics  are  those  medicines,  that,  when  taken 
internally,  increase  the  action  of  the  urinary  appa- 
ratus. 

QUEEN  OF  THE  MEADOW.— The  Root. 

Ciueen  of  the  meadow,  or  gravel  root,  has 
long,  fibrous  roots,  white  or  brownish  color.  It 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  95 

grows  from  three  to  six  feet  high,  with  pale  red- 
dish blossoms.  It  is  found  in  wet  ground,  or  near 
streams,  though  sometimes  on  high  land. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — This  is  a  powerful  di- 
uretic, useful  in  all  obstructions  of  the  urinary 
organs.  It  is  considered  by  those  who  have  proved 
it,  an  unfailing  remedy  for  the  gravel.  Used  ia 
strong  decoction,  freely. 

COOLWORf  .—The  Leaves. 

This  herb  is  found  in  woods,  on  shady  banks, 
and  in  rich  cedar  swamps,  where  the  ground  is 
not  very  wet.  The  leaves  are  heart-shaped, 
divided  into  lobes,  and  supported  on  footstalks 
eight  or  ten  inches  high.  The  flowers  are  white, 
and  make  their  appearance  in  June.  The  green 
leaves  have  the  taste  and  smell  of  a  cucumber. 
They  should  be  collected  in  July  or  first  of  August, 
and  dried  without  exposure  to  a  damp  atmosphere, 
and  preserved  in  sealed  papers,  or  covered  boxes. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Coolwort  is  beneficial 
in  all  cases  of  suppression  of  the  urine  or  gravelly 
complaints.  The  dried  leaves  may  be  steeped  and 
drank  freely. 

JUNIPER.—  The  Fruit. 

This  shrub  is  so  well  known  as  to  need  no  de- 
scription. The  berries,  the  only  part  used,  are 
ripe  in  August.  It  grows  in  abundance  in  all  the 
New  England  States  bordering  on  the  sea. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — The  berries  possess 
powerful  diuretic  properties,  and  are  useful  in  all 
cases  of  strangury,  dropsy,  gravel,  and  all  urinary 
obstructions. 

Cleavers,  poplar,  fir  balsam,  sumach,  strawberry 
10 


96  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

leaves,  elder  bark  and  blows,  burdock  root,  and 
spearmint,  are ,  also  valuable  diuretics ;  but  are  so 
well  known  as  to  need  no  description. 


EXPECTORANTS. 

Expectorants  are  medicines  that  promote  the 
discharge  of  matter  from  the  lungs,  whether  it  be 
mucus,  pus,  or  any  other  morbid  accumulation. 
,The  best  expectorant  known  is  lobelia. 

SKUNK  CABBAGE.—  The  Root. 

This  plant  is  found  plentifully  in  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States.  It  grows  in  wet  lands,  having 
many  fibrous  roots,  sending  lip  many  large,  bright 
green  leaves,  but  without  any  stem  or  stalk.  Its 
smell  resembles  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  skunk, 
from  which  it  derives  its  name. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — It  is  expectorant,  anti- 
spasmodic,  and  nervine  ;  useful  in  asthma,  con- 
sumption, cough,  hysterics,  and  all  spasmodic  af- 
fections. One  third  of  a  tea-spoonful  of  the  pul- 
verized root  is  enough  for  a  dose,  combined  with 
Cayenne  and  slippery  elm.  An  over-dose  produces 
vomiting,  head-ache,  vertigo,  and  temporary  blind- 
ness. 

PLEURISY  ROOT.—  The  Root. 

This  plant  is  sometimes  called  butterfly  weed, 
flux  root,  white  root,  &c.  It  is  a  beautiful  per- 
ennial plant,  flourishing  best  in  a  light  sandy  soil 
by  the  way  side,  under  fences,  and  near  old 
stumps  in  rye  fields.  There  are  sometimes  fifteen 
or  twenty  stalks  the  size  of  a  pipe  stem,  proceed- 


PLEURISY  ROOT. 


• 


LADIES'   SLIPPER. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  97 

ing  from  one  root,  rising  from  one  to  two  feet  in 
height,  and  spreading  to  a  considerable  extent. 
The  flowers  are  of  a  bright  orange  color,  and  ap- 
pear in  July  and  August.  These  are  succeeded 
by  long  slender  pods,  containing  the  seeds.  It 
has  a  carrot-shaped  root,  of  a  light  brownish 
color. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — This  root  is  diapho- 
retic, expectorant,  and  anti-spasmodic,  and  is  there- 
fore useful  in  cough,  pleurisy,  colic,  flatulence,  and 
to  promote  perspiration.  It  may  be  given  in  de- 
coction, or  in  powder,  a  tea-spoonful  at  a  dose,  in 
some  warming  herb  tea,  until  relief  is  obtained. 


NERVINES. 

Nervines  are  those  medicines  that  have  a  sooth- 
ing influence,  and  quiet  the  nerves  without  de- 
stroying their  sensibility.  They  are  beneficial  in 
all  cases  of  extreme  irritability,  restlessness,  and 
inability  to  sleep. 

LADY'S  SLIPPER.-  The  Root. 

This  valuable  plant  has  various  names — vale- 
rian, nerve  root,  yellow  umbil,  &c.  "  There  are 
three  or  four  species  of  lady's  slipper,  as  the  white, 
red,  and  yellow,  from  the  color  of  their  flowers, 
but  the  qualities  are  the  same.  It  grows  from  one 
to  two  feet  high,  and  sometimes  has  leaves  all  the 
way  up  the  stock ;  but  more  frequently  they  lie 
on  the  ground ; — the  stock  has  one  flower  on  it, 
in  the  form  of  a  purse  or  round  bag,  with  a  small 
entrance  near  where  it  joins  the  stalk,  and  is  some- 
thing like  a  moccason  slipper,  from  which  resem- 


98  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

blance  it  probably  derived  the  name  of  lady's 
slipper."  The  roots  are  fibrous,  and  thickly  mat- 
ted together.  It  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  The  roots  have  a  bitter,  mucilaginous 
taste  and  a  peculiar  smell,  somewhat  nauseous.  Its 
properties  are  sedative,  nervine,  and  anti-spasmodic. 
It  is  good  in  all  nervous  diseases  and  hysterical 
affections,  allaying  pain,  quieting  the  nerves,  and 
producing  sleep.  It  is  used  in  nervous  head-aches, 
tremors,  nervous  fevers,  &c.  It  is  far  preferable 
to  opium,  having  no  baneful  nor  narcotic  effects. 
It  has  produced  sleep  when  opium  has  failed. 
The  dose  is  a  tea-spoonful  of  the  powdered  root 
to  a  cup  of  pennyroyal  tea,  or  an  ounce  of  the 
root  may  be  infused  in  a  pint  of  water,  and  drunk 
freely  in  nervous  disorders.  In  giving  courses  of 
medicine  in  all  cases  where  the  patient  is  nervous, 
it  should  be  given  with  the  other  medicine,  say  a 
tea-spoonful  to  each  cup  of  the  emetic.  The  root 
should  be  dug  late  in  autumn,  or  early  in  the 
spring,  and  dried  in  the  sun ;  it  should  then  be 
pounded  and  sifted  through  a  fine  sieve,  and  bot- 
tled for  use. 

SCULLCAP.—  The  Herb. 

This  plant  grows  in  damp  places,  and  by  the  side 
of  streams.  It  has  a  small  fibrous  root,  stem  four- 
cornered,  and  from  ten  inches  to  two  feet  high. 
The  flowers  are  blue,  making  their  appearance  in 
July,  and  the  seed-vessels  of  a  light  green  color, 
each  one  containing  four  seeds. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — "  Scullcap  has  a  promi- 
nently bitter  taste,"  says  Mattson,  aand  is  the 
best  nervine  I  ever  employed ;  it  is  also  tonic  and 
anti-spasmodic.  It  is  particularly  useful  in  deli- 
rium tremensj  St.  Vitus'  dance,  convulsions,  lock- 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  99 

jaw,  tremors,  ague  and  fever,  tic  doloureux,  and 
all  nervous  affections.  It  may  be  given  with  ad- 
vantage to  children,  when  health  is  impaired  from 
the  effects  of  teething." 

"  The  warm  infusion  may  be  drunk  freely 
through  the  day,  or  a  heaped  tea-spoonful  of  the 
powdered  leaves,  with  rather  more  than  an  equal 
quantity  of  sugar,  steeped  in  a  tea-cupful  of  boiling 
water,  may  be  taken  at  a  dose,  and  repeated  as 
often  as  the  symptoms  require." 


DEMULCENTS. 

Demulcents  are  those  medicines  that  possess 
soothing  mucilaginous  properties,  shielding  the 
surface  or  membrane  from  the  contact  of  any  irri- 
tating substance. 

SLIPPERY  ELM— The  Bark. 

This  tree,  which  grows  in  the  Northern  and 
Eastern  States,  attains  to  the  height  of  about  thirty 
feet,  trunk  slender,  dividing  in  numerous  branches, 
furnished  with  a  rough  and  light-colored  bark,  and 
oblong  leaves.  The  bark  may  be  cut  into  small 
pieces  and  put  into  water,  either  hot  or  cold,  and 
it  will  give  out  much  of  its  mucilage ;  but  the 
best;  way  is  to  take  the  bark  and  dry  it  thorough- 
ly, then  reduce  it  to  a  fine  powder.  It  is  use- 
ful in  cough,  bowel  complaints,  strangury,  sore 
throat,  inflammation  of  the  lungs  and  stomach, 
eruptions,  &c.  As  an  external  application,  in  the 
form  of  poultice,  it  is  a  valuable  remedy  far  ex- 
ceeding any  known  production,  for  ulcers,  tumors, 
swellings,  chilblains,  burns,  sore  mouth,  thrush, 
and  as  a  wash. 


100  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

The  surgeons  in  the  revolutionary  army  expe- 
rienced the  most  happy  effects  from  its  application 
to  gun-shot  wounds,  which  were  soon  brought  to 
a  suppuration,  and  a  disposition  to  heal.  When  a 
tendency  to  mortification  was  evident,  this  bark 
bruised  and  boiled  in  water  produced  the  most 
surprising  good  effects.  The  infusion  of  the  bark 
is  highly  esteemed  as  a  diet  drink  in  pleurisy  and 
catarrh,  and  also  in  diarrhoea  and  dysentery.  It 
is  very  nutritious,  and  much  used  as  food  for  the 
sick. 

COMFREY.—  The  Root. 

This  plant  is  cultivated  in  gardens,  and  may  be 
found  growing  spontaneously  by  road  sides.  It 
grows  from  three  to  four  feet  high,  with  yellowish 
flowers. 

PROPERTIES  AND  USES. — Comfrey  is  mucilagi- 
nous, and  is  therefore  useful  in  coughs,  dysentery, 
soreness  of  the  bowels,  and  for  poultices.  It  may 
be  used  in  powder,  half  a  tea-spoonful  in  two 
thirds  of  a  cupful  of  hot  water. 

Irish  moss,  buck-horn  brake,  hollyhock  blos- 
soms, flax  seed,  marshmallows,  &c.,  are  also  muci- 
laginous, and  may  be  used  in  all  cases  of  irritation, 
internally  or  externally. 


Synopsis  of  the  medical  properties  of  Plants  used 
occasionally. 

CAMOMILE. — An  infusion  drank  warm  is  useful  in 
pulmonary  complaints,  and  in  all  cases  of  debility  ,• 
applied  as  a  fomentation  in  glandular  swellings. 

MAYWEED — The  infusion  may  be  given  to  pro- 
mote perspiration,  and  used  externally  in  fomerv- 
tations  for  white  swellings,  rheumatism,  &c. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  JQJ 

BLACK  COHOSH. — A  syrup  of  this  plant  is  useful 
in  coughs  ;  and  a  poultice  made  by  thickening  the 
decoction  with  slippery  elm  is  useful  in  all  kinds 
of  inflammation. 

INDIAN  HEMP. — This  root  has  been  used  with 
success  in  dropsy,  by  steeping  an  ounce  in  a  quart 
of  water,  and  taking  half  a  glass  three  or  four 
times  a  day. 

SPIKENARD. — The  root  of  this  plant  has  a  warm, 
aromatic,  balsamic,  fragrant  taste,  and  is  useful  in 
all  pulmonary  complaints,  taken  in  infusion,  de- 
coction, or  syrup. 

SOLOMON'S  SEAL. — An  infusion  of  the  roots  is 
useful  in  all  cases  of  fluor  albus,  (whites,)  and  in 
immoderate  flowing  of  the  menses,  arising  from 
female  weakness. 

SAFFRON. — This  plant  is  an  excellent  article  to 
promote  perspiration,  a  tea  of  which  is  very  valu- 
able in  all  eruptive  forms  of  disease,  as  canker 
rash,  measles,  &c. 

CRANE'S  BILL  is  a  good  astringent,  useful  in 
bleeding,  internally  or  externally,  or  in  hemor- 
rhage from  the  lungs,  bowels,  or  womb. 

YELLOW-DOCK. — A  syrup  made  of  this  root,  with 
equal  parts  of  wintergreen  and  sarsaparilla,  is  ex- 
cellent to  eradicate  scrofulous  and  other  taints  of 
the  system.. 

EVAN  ROOT. — This  plant  grows  in  low,  marshy 
land,  and  is  sometimes  called  chocolate  root.  It 
possesses  slightly  astringent  and  tonic  properties, 
and  may  be  used  with  benefit  in  diarrhoea,  dysen- 
tery, and  bowel  complaints  in  general. 

HOPS. — Hop  tea  may  be  used  with  benefit  as  a 
means  of  quieting  nervous  agitation,  and  promot- 
ing sleep.  It  is  useful  in  cases  of  delirium  tre- 
mens.  The  yellow  powder  which  may  be  very 


102  A  GUIDE  1O  HEALTH. 

readily  obtained  from  hops  by  rubbing  and  sifting 
them,  contains  the  active  principle  of  hops.  This 
powder,  (called  lupulin,)  by  being  rubbed  up  in  a 
warm  mortar,  will  form  a  paste,  which  may  be 
made  into  pills,  and  taken  for  the  purposes  above 
mentioned. 

MEADOW  FERN. — A  strong  decoction  of  the  leaves 
and  burs  of  the  meadow  fern  have  been  found  very 
useful  in  erysipelas,  taken  freely,  and  bathing  the 
part  affected.  It  is  also  a  valuable  external  appli- 
cation for  all  eruptions  and  troublesome  humors. 

HORSEMINT. — A  strong  tea  affords  relief  in  gravel 
and  suppression  of  the  urine. 

UVA  URSI. — A  tea  drank  freely  is  useful  in  ul- 
ceration  of  the  kidneys  and  bladder,  and  all  uneasy 
obstructions. 

HIGH  CRANBERRY.— A  strong  tea  drank  freely 
(says  Smith)  is  very  effectual  in  relaxing  spasms 
and  cramps  of  all  kinds. 

GUM  ARABIC  makes  a  line  mucilage  for  stran- 
gury and  scalding  of  the  urine. 

Ox  GALL,  made  into  pills,  combined  with  golden 
seal  and  Cayenne,  says  Dr.  Osgood,  is  of  inesti- 
mable value  in  those  cases  of  dyspepsia  accompa- 
nied with  flatulency,  sour  eructations,  and  obsti- 
nate constipation  of  the  bowels.  For  the  method 
of  preparing  it  for  use,  see  Compounds. 


Directions  for  gathering  and  preparing  Medicines. 

The  remedies  used  for  the  cure  of  disease  should 
be  gathered  with  much  care,  and  by  persons  who 
have  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  roots  and  plants 
they  wish  to  gather,  to  be  a  guarantee  against  any 
mistake  being  made.  The  season  of  the  year  in 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

which  they  are  gathered  is  to  be  regarded,  with- 
out which  the  medicine  cannot  be  depended  on. 
Every  practitioner  should  gather  as  much  of  his 
own  medicine  as  possible. 

Herbs  and  leaves  should  be  gathered  while  in 
blossom.  If  left  till  they  have  gone  to  seed,  the 
strength  is  much  diminished.  They  should  be 
dried  and  carefully  kept  from  the  air.  Herb  tea, 
to  do  any  good,  should  be  made  very  strong. 

Barks  and  roots  should  be  collected  in  the  spring 
or  autumn.  They  should  not  be  pulverized  a 
long  time  before  they  arc  required  for  use,  as  they 
lose  their  strength. 

Flowers  should  be  gathered  when  in  perfection, 
and  in  dry  weather,  dried  in  the  shade,  and  kept 
from  the  air. 

Seeds  should  be  gathered  when  they  are  fully 
ripe,  separated  from  chaff  and  dirt,  and  kept  in 
bottles  or  jars  for  use. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

COMPOUNDS. 

The  principal  objects  in  combining  medicines 
are,  to  increase  their  strength,  accomplish  differ- 
ent indications  at  the  same  time,  or  to  render  them 
more  pleasant  and  agreeable.  A  large  number  of 
the  compounds  offered  to  the  public,  are  prepared 
without  any  regard  to  either  of  these  objects,  but 
according  to  the  fancy  of  the  one  who  prepares 
them.  Much  imposition  is  practised  on  the  people 
by  compounds,  that  could  not  be  done  with  simple 
medicines,  as  a  knowledge  of  their  component 
parts  would  destroy  their  value. 
11 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

We  do  not  say  that  the  compounds  hereafter 
mentioned  are  the  best  that  could  be  prepared,  or 
that  they  will  invariably  effect  a  cure ;  but  we 
know  them  to  be  useful  in  the  cases  for  which 
they  were  designed. 

Dose  of  Medicine. 

The  quantity  of  medicine  to  be  taken  at  a  dose, 
depends  on  the  age,  sex,  or  peculiarity  of  consti- 
tution. The  quantity  mentioned  in  this  work  is 
an  average  dose  for  a  full-grown  man.  Females 
require  less.  For  children  the  doses  may  be  gra- 
duated by  the  following  rule  : — 

For  a  youth  of  fifteen  years,  the  dose  may  be 
two  thirds  the  quantity  for  a  grown  person  ;  for  a 
child  of  ten  years,  one  half  the  quantity ;  for  one 
of  two  years,  one  sixth  the  quantity ;  for  a  child 
of  one  year,  one  tenth  the  quantity. 

COMPOSITION  POWDER. 

Take  of  bayberry 2  Ibs. 

"      "  ginger lib. 

"      "Cayenne... 2  oz. 

"      "  cinnamon 2  oz. 

"      "  prickly  ash 2  oz. 

All  to  be  finely  pulverized,  and  sifted  through 
a  fine  sieve,  and  well  mixed. 

DosE.-^One  tea-spoonful  in  two  thirds  of  a  cup- 
ful of  hot  water,  sweetened ;  milk  or  cream  may 
be  added  to  make  it  more  agreeable. 

This  compound,  being  stimulant,  astringent, 
and  tonic,  is  an  invaluable  family  medicine,  being 
adapted  to  all  forms  of  disease,  in  connection  with 
laxatives,  if  costiveness  be  a  prominent  symptom, 
or  relaxants  in  cases  of  constriction. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  105 

SPICED  BITTERS. 

Take  of  poplar  bark 2  Ibs. 

"  "  golden  seal... 8  oz. 

"  "  prickly  ash  bark 12  oz. 

"  "  ginger 8  oz. 

"  "  cloves 8oz. 

"  "  cinnamon 4  oz. 

"  "  balmony 8  oz. 

"  "  Cayenne 6  oz. 

"  "  white  sugar 5  Ibs. 

The  whole  finely  pulverized,  sifted,  and  well 
mixed.  This  is  an  excellent  tonic  compound,  use- 
ful in  all  cases  of  indigestion,  loss  of  appetite,  jaun- 
dice, general  debility,  and  all  other  cases  where 
the  system  is  in  a  weak,  relaxed  state.  They 
should  not  be  used  in  cases  of  constriction,  as  in 
fevers  or  tightness  of  the  lungs. 

DOSE. — Take  a  tea-spoonful  of  the  powder,  in 
half  a  cupful  of  hot  water,  three  times  a  day,  be- 
fore eating ;  or  take  the  same  quantity  into  the 
mouth  dry,  and  wash  down  with  cold  water. 

DIARRHCEA  POWDERS. 

Take  of  bayberry * . .  .4  oz. 

"  "  golden  seal •••••4oz. 

"  "  rhubarb 4  oz. 

"  "  saleratus 1  oz. 

"  "  gum  myrrh £  oz. 

"  "  cinnamon ....2oz. 

"  "  peppermint  plant. .  • . .  .2  oz. 

"  "  loaf  sugar lib. 

All  finely  pulverized,  sifted  through  a  fine  sieve, 
and  well  mixed. 

This  is. one  of  the  most  valuable  preparations 
known  for  diarrhea,  cholera  morbus,  summer  com- 


106  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

plaint  of  children,  dysentery,  &c.  It  comes  the 
nearest  to  a  specific  for  these  forms  of  disease,  in 
the  early  stages,  .of  any  medicine  we  have  ever 
used. 

DOSE.— Put  a  tea-spoonful  of  the  powder  into 
two  thirds  of  a  cupful  of  hot  water,  and  add  two 
tea-spoonfuls  of  loaf  sugar ;  and  for  a  child  one 
year  old,  give  one  or  two  tea-spoonfuls  of  the  tea 
once  in  fifteen  minutes,  until  the  desired  object  is 
accomplished. 

FEMALE  RESTORATIVE. 

Take  of  poplar  bark 5  Ibs. 

cloves 8  oz. 

cinnamon 8  oz. 

bethroot 1  Ib. 

witch  hazel  leaves 1  Ib. 

loaf  sugar 8  Ibs. 

Cayenne 6  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized,  sifted,  and  well  mixed. 

This  compound  is  particularly  designed  for 
weakly  complaints  of  females,  such  as  fluor  albus, 
bearing  down,  weakness,  profuse  menstruation,  &c. 

DOSE. — A  tea-spoonful  in  half  a  cupful  of  hot 
water,  three  times  a  day. 

FEMALE  STRENGTHENING  SYRUP. 

Take  of  comfrey  root. 4  oz. 

"     "   elecampane  root 2  oz. 

"     "   hoarhound .....loz. 

Boil  them  in  three  quarts  of  water  down  to  three 
pints ;  strain  and  add  while  warm — 

Bethroot  pulverized %  oz. 

Loaf  sugar 1  Ib. 

Brandy .«» *  *  t .  t  »«•«*•.•••«•••  1  pt. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  107 

DOSE. — From  half  to  two  thirds  of  a  wine  glass- 
ful, three  or  four  times  a  day. 

This  is  used  in  female  weakness,  bearing  down, 
of  the  womb,  fluor  albus,  debility,  barrenness,  &c. 

THE  MOTHER'S  CORDIAL. 

Take  of  partridge-berry  vine,  dried ...  1  Ib. 
"     "  high  cranberry  or  cramp  bark  4  oz. 

"     "  unicorn  root 4  oz. 

"     "  blue  cohosh 4  oz. 

Boil  in  two  gallons  of  water  to  one ;  strain  and 
add  one  pound  and  a  half  of  sugar,  and  three  pints 
of  brandy.  Its  effects  are  to  shorten  and  diminish 
the  sufferings  of  child-birth,  and  thus  place  both 
mother  and  child  in  a  state  of  safety.  It  should 
be  used  daily  for  two  weeks  immediately  preced- 
ing confinement  as  a  preparatory.  j 

DOSE. — From  half  to  a  wine-glassful  two  or  three 
times  a  day,  and  one  at  bed-time,  in  a  little  hot 
water.  [Dr.  P.  F.  Sweet.] 

FEMALE  POWDERS 

Take  of  gum  myrrh 4  oz. 

"     "  Cayenne 4  oz. 

"     "  unicorn 4  oz. 

"     "  tansy 4  oz. 

"     "  gum  aloes... £  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized,  sifted,  and  well  mixed. 

DOSE. — Half  a  tea-spoonful  in  molasses  or  ho- 
ney, three  or  four  times  a  day.  This  compound 
is  designed  for  obstructed  or  suppressed  menstru- 
ation. 

COMPOUND  FOR  CANKER. 

Take  of  bayberry • .  .4  oz. 

"     "    white  pond  lily ......  4  oz. 

"     "   Cayenne ..loz. 

•       "    "  loaf  suar  1 1  •  1 1 1 1 1 12  Ibs. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

All  finely  pulverized,  sifted,  and  well  mixed. 

DOSE. — Half  a  tea-spoonful  in  honey,  or  a  tea- 
spoonful  steeped  in  a  cupful  of  water,  to  gargle 
the  mouth  and  throat.  Useful  in  all  cases  of  can- 
ker in  the  mouth,  stomach,  or  bowels. 

ANTI-DYSPEPTIC  POWDER. 

Take  of  Cayenne 2  oz. 

"     "    golden  seal 2  oz. 

"     "   saleratus £  oz. 

DOSE. — Half  a  tea-spoonful,  when  well  mixed, 
in  half  a  cupful  of  hot  water  about  fifteen  minutes 
after  eating.  Useful  in  all  cases  of  indigestion  or 
pain  in  the  stomach  after  eating. 

PILLS.— No.  1. 

Take  of  lobelia  seed 4  oz. 

"     "   Cayenne 4  oz. 

"     "   valerian 4  oz. 

"     "   slippery  elm 2  oz. 

"     "  dandelion  extract . . .  .4  oz. 

Mix  and  roll  in  slippery  elm.  Designed  to  relax 
the  system  gradually,  so  as  not  to  produce  vomit- 
ing. Useful  in  all  cases  of  constriction  or  fever, 
head-ache,  liver  complaint,  &c. 

DOSE. — From  one  to  four  at  night,  or  as  often 
as  the  nature  of  the  case  may  require. 

PILLS.— No.  2. 

Take  of  butternut  extract  ...  .2  oz. 

"     "    rhubarb 2  oz. 

"     "    Cayenne 1  oz. 

"  "    cinnamon  ..........  1  oz. 

"     "   lobelia  seed 1  oz. 

"     "   aloes £oz. 

"     "  golden  seal 2  oz. 

*.?**;„    "  slippery  elm , . » 4  oz. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  10g 

Moisten  with  gum  arabic  water.  Mix  and  make 
into  pills.  These  pills  are  designed  for  universal 
application  in  all  cases  not  accompanied  with  loose- 
ness of  the  bowels.  Their  efficacy  in  biliary 
obstructions  and  costiveness  has  been  unprece- 
dented. 

INJECTION  POWDER 

Take  of  bayberry . .  *  • 4  oz. 

"     "    Cayenne 1  oz. 

"     "   lobelia  herb 4  oz. 

"     "    slippery  elm 2  oz. 

"     "    valerian 2  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized,  and  well  mixed. 
DOSE. — Two  tea-spoonfuls  in  a  gill  of  hot  wa- 
ter, given  about  blood  warm. 

ELDER  SALVE. 

Take  the  white-pithed  elder  sticks,  run  them 
quickly  through  hot  embers,  and  the  cuticle  will 
easily  slip  off.  Then  scrape  off  the  green  bark, 
and  make  a  strong  decoction.  Put  into  a  quart  of 
this,  a  half-pint  of  mutton  tallow,  as  much  neat's 
foot  oil,  and  a  table-spoonful  of  balsam  of  fir. 
(Sweet  oil  or  fresh  butter,  and  pine  turpentine  will 
do,  instead  of  neat's  foot  oil  and  balsam,  when 
these  cannot  be  had.)  Boil  till  it  ceases  to  spar- 
kle and  make  a  noise,  when  it  will  be  done.  More 
mutton  tallow  would  make  it  harder ;  less  of  this, 
and  more  oil,  would  make  it  softer.  It  should  be 
very  soft  for  cancers  and  burns,  and  pretty  hard  for 
fresh  wounds  that  contain  no  canker.  No  better 
salve  is  made  than  this.  It  combines  the  proper- 
ties of  a  protector  and  healer,  while  it  is  entirely 
permeable  to  the  matter  of  the  sore,  and  if  often 
changed,  will  effectually  remove  it.  [Dr.  Curtis.] 


J10  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

HEALING  SALVE. 

Take  of  beeswax 1  Ib. 

"     "  white  turpentine 1  Ib. 

"     "   balsam  fir lib. 

"     "   fresh  butter lib. 

Melt  and  simmer  them  together,  then  strain  off 
for  use ;  to  be  applied  to  cuts,  bruises,  ulcers,  &c. 
after  the  inflammation  is  removed. 

ADHESIVE  AND  STRENGTHENING  PLASTER. 

Take  of  rosin 2  Ibs. 

"     '    beeswax 2^- oz. 

"     '    mutton  tallow 2^  oz. 

"     '     camphor 1  oz. 

"     '    brandy 1  gill. 

"     '     oil  of  hemlock. . . . .  .£  oz. 

The  beeswax  and  tallow  to  be  put  in  first,  then 
the  rosin  ;  melt  over  a  slow  fire,  stirring  them  till 
melted  ;  then  add  the  camphor ;  after  it  is  dissolved, 
add  the  brandy  gradually,  then  turn  it  into  cold 
water,  and  work  it  until  it  will  remain  on  the  top 
of  the  water.  This  is  a  valuable  application  for 
pain  in  the  side,  back,  &c.,  rheumatism,  or  weak- 
ness in  any  part  of  the  system  where  it  can  be 
applied.  It  may  also  be  applied  to  ulcers,  wounds, 
&c.,  as  a  salve.  It  may  be  used  also  to  confine 
the  edges  of  deep  or  large  wounds,  and  thus  ena- 
ble them  to  heal  with  greater  facility. 

ANTI-SPASMODIC  TINCTURE, 
OR   THIRD    PREPARATION    OF    LOBELIA. 

Take  of  lobelia  seed,  pulverized. .  .1  Ib. 

"     "  Cayenne 4  oz. 

"     "  valerian ..4oz. 

"     "  Holland  gin ,1  gal. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 


.11 

Infuse  for  ten  days  in  a  closely-stopped  vessel, 
shaking  it  every  day  ;  then  strain  off  for  use. 

This  preparation  is  valuable  in  violent  attacks 
of  any  form  of  disease,  such  as  lock-jaw,  fits,  hy- 
drophobia, suspended  animation,  to  expel  poison 
of  any  kind  from  the  system ;  as  an  external 
application,  it  is  useful  in  sprains,  bruises,  rheu- 
matic pains,  &>c. 

DOSE. — A  tea-spoonful,  repeated  as  often  as  the 
nature  of  the  case  requires,  in  some  warming  tea. 

DYSENTERY  OR  CHOLERA  SYRUP. 

Take  of  white  pond  lily,  root 4  oz. 

"     "   green  peppermint  plant. .  .8  oz. 
"     "   bayberry 4  oz. 

Boil  in  one  and  a  half  gallons  of  water  down  to 
one  gallon,  strain  and  add — 

Gum  myrrh 1  oz, 

Cayenne £  oz. 

Rhubarb 4  oz. 

Saleratus ^  oz. 

Loaf  sugar 1  lb. 

Fourth  proof  brandy 1  pt. 

DOSE. — Haifa  wine-glass  once  in  two  hours. 
This  syrup  is  an  invaluable  remedy  for  diarrhoea, 
dysentery,  cholera  morbus?  and  the  summer  com- 
plaints of  children. 

WORM  SYRUP. 

Take  of  butternut  bark 4  oz. 

"  sage 2  oz. 

"   gum  myrrh 2  oz. 

"     "  poplar  bark 2  oz. 

"  bitter  root 4  oz. 

Boil  in  one  gallon  of  water  down  to  two  quarts. 


112  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

strain  and  add  two  pounds  white  sugar  and  a  half 
pint  of  Holland  gin. 

DOSE. — Four  tea-spoonfuls  once  an  hour  until 
it  acts  gently  on  the  bowels.  Designed  to  expel 
worms  from  the  stomach  and  bowels. 

EMETIC  POWDER. 

Take  of  lobelia,  herb 4  oz. 

"     "  lobelia,  seed 4  oz. 

"     "  bayberry 2  oz. 

"     "  Cayenne 4  oz. 

"     "  valerian 2  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized,  and  well  mixed. 

DOSE. — Put  four  tea-spoonfuls  in  a  cup  of  hot 
water,  and  give  four  tea-spoonfuls  of  the  tea,  after 
the  sediment  settles,  once  in  ten  minutes  until  it 
operates  freely  as  an  emetic. 

STIMULATING  LINIMENT. 

Add  1  oz.  oil  hemlock,  1  oz.  oil  cedar,  1  oz.  oil 
spearmint,  to  a  pint  of  the  anti-spasmodic  tincture. 
Useful  in  all  cases  of  pain,  not  attended  with  in- 
flammation and  paralytic  affections. 

COUGH  POWDER. 

Take  of  Cayenne £  oz. 

"  "  lobelia,  herb 1  oz. 

"  "  slippery  elm 2  oz. 

"  "  skunk  cabbage. ....  .1  oz. 

"  "  wake  robin 1  oz. 

"  "  valerian. ...loz. 

"  "  prickly  ash. ........  1  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized,  and  well  mixed. 
DOSE. — Half  a  tea-spoonful  in  hot  water,  sweet- 
ened, once  in  two  or  three  hours.     Valuable  in  all 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  U$ 

cases  of  cough,  consumption,  croup,  asthma,  hoarse- 
ness, &c. 

COUGH  DROPS. 

Take  of  lobelia  herb 4  oz. 

"     "  hoarhound 2oz. 

"     "   comfrey 2  oz 

'*     "  elecampane 2  oz. 

"     "  boneset 4  oz. 

Boil  in  three  quarts  of  water  to  three  pints,  strain 
and  add  two  pounds  of  white  sugar  and  one  pint 
of  Holland  gin.  i 

DOSE. — Two  or  three  tea-spoonfuls  once  an 
hour  j  for  asthma,  croup,  cough,  whooping  cough, 
consumption,  &c. 

TINCTURE  OF  MYRRH. 

Take  of  gum  myrrh 4  oz. 

"     "   alcohol 1  qt. 

Infuse  for  twelve  days,  and  strain.  This  is  an 
excellent  wash  for  offensive  ulcers,  and  for  all 
wounds  where  there  is  a  tendency  to  mortification. 

TINCTURE  OF  LOBELIA. 

Take  of  lobelia,  herb  ....... .4 oz. 

"     "   alcohol Ipt. 

"     "   water 1  pt. 

Infuse  twelve  days,  and  strain.  This  is  a  con- 
venient form  to  administer  in  many  cases,  espe- 
cially for  children,  and  for  external  application  in 
eruptive  forms  of  disease. 

An  acid  tincture  is  prepared  by  putting  4  oz. 
lobelia  herb  into  a  quart  of  vinegar. 


114  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

TINCTURE  OF  CAYENNE. 

Take  of  Cayenne 4  oz. 

"     "   alcohol  or  vinegar. ...  1  pt. 

Infuse  for  ten  days,  and  strain.  Used  in  all  cases 
of  paralysis  for  bathing,  and  for  rheumatism,  swell- 
ed joints,  &c. 

COMPOUND  TINCTURE  OF  MYRRH, 
OR    HOT    DROPS. 

Take  of  gum  myrrh . « 12  oz. 

"     "   Cayenne 1  oz. 

"     "   fourth  proof  brandy. ...  1  gal. 

Put  them  into  a  jug  or  glass  demi-john,  and  shake 
them  several  times  a  day  for  a  week,  when  the 
liquor  may  be  poured  off  and  bottled  for  use. 

This  preparation  is  useful  for  bathing  in  cases 
of  debility  or  a  relaxed  state  of  the  surface,  as  in 
night  sweats — to  check  diarrhoea,  relieve  pain  in 
the  stomach  or  bowels,  and  also  for  the  tooth-ache. 

DOSE. — From  one  to  four  tea-spoonfuls  in  hot 
water.  For  the  tooth-ache,  wet  a  piece  of  cotton 
in  it,  and  put  it  into  the  tooth. 

STIMULATING  CONSERVE. 

Take  of  golden  seal 2  oz. 

"       "  poplar  bark 2  oz. 

"      "  prickly  ash. . 2  oz. 

"       "  cinnamon 2  oz. 

"       "  Cayenne 1  oz. 

"      "  loaf  sugar 4  Ibs. 

All  pulverized  and  well  mixed.  Knead  them  into 
a  stiff  dough  with  the  mucilage  of  slippery  elm, 
adding  1-4  oz.  each  of  the  oils  of  pennyroyal  and 
peppermint.  It  may  be  made  into  cakes  or  loaves 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  H5 

"of  a  convenient  size.  This  preparation  is  useful 
for  coughs,  colds,  sore  throat,  hoarseness,  &c.  It 
may  be  carried  in  the  pocket  and  eaten  freely. 

TINCTURE  OF  FIR  BALSAM. 

Take  of  fir  balsam. 1  oz. 

"      "   alcohol 1  pt. 

Shake  them  well  together.  To  be  applied  to 
fresh  wounds,  bums,  and  ulcers.  A  tea-spoonful 
taken  two  or  three  times  a  day  is  beneficial  in 
coughs,  soreness  of  the  bowels,  &c. 

ESSENCES. 

Take,  of  the  essential  oil  of  the  essence  you 
wish  to  make,  one  ounce,  alcohol  one  pint,  shaking 
them  well  together. 

PILE  OINTMENT. 

Take  of  hemlock  bark,  finely  pulverized,  one 
ounce,  fresh  lard  six  ounces ;  mix  them  together 
thoroughly.  It  may  be  confined  to  the  parts  by 
means  of  a  bandage,  and  a  piece  of  cotton. 

DIURETIC  SYRUP. 

Take  of  queen  of  the  meadow. . .  .4  oz. 

'  juniper  berries 4  oz. 

1 '   cleavers 4  oz. 

<c       "   burdock  root  or  seed 4  oz. 

Make  a  strong  decoction ;  strain  and  add  two 
pounds  of  honey  and  half  as  much  Holland  gin 
as  there  is  of  the  tea,  and  bottle  for  use. 

DOSE. — Take  half  a  glass  three  times  a  day. 
This  preparation  is  very  useful  in  gravel,  stran- 
gury, dropsy,  &c. 
12 


116  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

HEAD-ACHE  SNUFF. 

Take  Df  bayberry 1  oz. 

"       "    blood  root J- oz. 

"       "   sassafras  bark. .....  1  oz. 

Finely  pulverized  and  mixed. 

SMELLING  SALTS. 

Take  of  pearlash 1  oz. 

"       "    sal  ammoniac £  oz. 

Pulverize  each  by  itself,  and  mix.  Preserve  in 
a  closely  stopped  bottle. 

ELM  POULTICE. 

Take  of  slippery  elm. . . .  2  tea-spoonfuls. 
"      "  lobelia  herb....  1          do. 
"      "  ginger I          do. 

Mix  in  warm  water.  Useful  in  all  cases  of  pain 
and  inflammation  ;  if  the  skin  is  off,  the  ginger 
may  be  omitted. 

ANTI-DYSPEPTIC  PILLS 

Empty  the  contents  of  three  large  ox  galls  into 
a  quart  bowl,  immerse  into  a  vessel  of  boiling 
water,  and  keep  the  water  boiling  quite  gently  for 
the  space  of  six  or  eight  hours,  or  until  the  gall 
shall  have  acquired  the  consistency  of  thick  mo- 
lasses ;  then  remove  it  from  the  fire,  and  let  it 
stand  until  it  becomes  cool ;  then  mix  with  it  a 
powder,  composed  of  five  parts  of  finely  pulver- 
ized golden  seal,  and  one  part  Cayenne,  and  mould 
it  into  a  pill-mass ;  then  divide  it  into  five  grain 
pills.  Administer  from  two  to  four,  according  to 
the  nature  of  the  case,  three  times  in  twenty-four 


BLOOD  ROOT. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  117 

hours.  They  rectify  the  acidity  of  the  stomach 
and  remove  the  distress,  and  regulate  the  bowels. 
[Thomsonian  Advertiser.] 

ANTI-EMETIC  DROPS. 

Take  of  salt 2  oz. 

"      "    Cayenne 1  oz. 

"      "    vinegar 1  qt. 

Mix.     Dose,  a  table-spoonful  whenever  there  is 
great  nausea  or  vomiting. 

TOOTH-ACHE  DROPS. 

Take  of  oil  of  sassafras £  oz. 

"      "   oil  of  summer  savory  . . .  •£  oz. 
"      "  oil  of  cloves £  oz. 

Mix  ;  dip  a  piece  of  cotton  in  the  drops,  and  put 
it  in  the  tooth. 

WINE  BITTERS. 

Take  of  poplar  bark .3  Ibs. 

"  goldenseal 1  Ib. 

"  balmony 1  Ib. 

"  scullcap 8  oz. 

"  unicorn 8  oz. 

"  Cayenne 4  oz. 

Put  these  materials  into  a  convenient  vessel,  add 
four  gallons  of  water,  and  boil  gently  for  half  an 
hour,  or  until  the  liquid  is  reduced  to  about  three 
gallons,  keeping  the  vessel  in  the  mean  time  close-; 
ly  covered  ;  strain  through  a  coarse  cloth,  and  add 
fifteen  pounds  of  sugar,  and  boil  again  until  the. 
scum  ceases  to  rise,  which  will  be  in  about  five) 
minutes.  This  done,  strain  the  liquor  a  secondj 
time  through  a  cloth  or  sieve,  and  when  nearly 
12* 


118  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

cool  add  the  infusion  of  half  a  pound  of  prickly 
ash  berries  and  a  pound  of  cinnamon,  prepared  by 
steeping  them  in  a  close  vessel  with  twelve  gallons 
of  sweet  Malaga  wine.  The  preparation  is  then 
fit  for  use,  and  should  be  put  into  clean  bottles  or 
kegs. 

DOSE. — Half  a  wine  glass  three  times  a  day  be- 
fore eating.  Useful  in  dyspepsia,  loss  of  appetite, 
debility,  sinking  at  the  stomach,  drowsiness,  head- 
ache, &c. 

FOR  POLYPUS  IN  THE  NOSE. 

Take  blood  root,  bayberry,  and  black  pepper, 
equal  parts,  all  finely  pulverized  and  well  mixed. 
To  be  taken  as  snuff,  or  blown  into  the  nose 
through  a  quill. 

SYRUP  FOR  PURIFYING  THE  BLOOD. 

Take  of  yellow  dock  root. . .  .4  oz. 

"       "   dandelion  root 4  oz. 

"       "    wintergreen 4  oz. 

"       "    sarsaparilla 4  oz. 

"       "    blue  cohosh 2  oz. 

Boil  in  one  gallon  of  water  :  strain  and  add  one 
pint  of  Holland  gin.  Dose,  a  wine-glassful  once  a 
day.  Useful  in  all  cases  of  scrofula,  mecurial  dis- 
ease, cancer,  or  any  eruption  of  the  surface, 
depending  on  an  impurity  of  the  blood. 

SPRUCE  BEER. 

Take  four  gallons  of  water,  boil  half  of  it ;  let 
the  other  half  be  put  cold  into  a  barrel,  and  upon 
this  pour  the  boiling  water ;  then  add  three  quarts 
of  molasses  and  a  little  of  the  essence  of  spruce, 
tstir  them  together ;  add  a  gill  of  yeast,  and  keep 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  Ug 

the  whole  in  a  moderate  heat,  with  the  bung  out, 
for  two  days,  till  the  fermentation  has  subsided  ; 
then  bottle  it,  and  it  will  be  fit  for  use  in  a  week 
or  ten  days. 

DR.  HULL'S  BILIOUS  PHYSIC. 

Take  eight  ounces  aloes,  one  ounce  each  of  mace, 
myrrh,  cinnamon,  cloves,  saffron  and  ginger ;  four 
ounces  of  the  dried  leaves  of  the  garden  sunflower. 
Pulverize  the  articles  separately,  and  mix  them 
thoroughly.  Dose,  a  tea-spoonful. 

We  insert  this  recipe  for  the  benefit  of  those 
who  wish  to  take  occasionally  a  portion  of  physic  ; 
it  is  probably  as  good  as  any  thing  of  the  kind. 

SUDORIFIC  POWDERS. 

Take  of  lobelia,  herb 4  oz. 

"     "  pleurisy  root.  . . .  • 4  oz. 

"     "   skunk  cabbage 4  oz. 

"     "   crawley  root .4  oz. 

DOSE. — A  quarter  of  a  tea-spoonful  once  an  hour, 
until  a  gentle  perspiration  is  produced.  In  typhus 
or  scarlet  fever  it  may  be  increased  as  the  case  may 
require.  Valuable  for  producing  perspiration  and 
equalizing  the  circulation;  highly  useful  for  a 
cough,  and  admirably  adapted  to  break  up  a  cold. 

FEMALE  TONIC  POWDERS. 

Take  of  comfrey 2  oz. 

"     "  elecampane 2  oz. 

"     "  rosin 1  oz. 

"     "   loaf  sugar 8  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized  and  well  mixed.  Dose,  a 
tea-spoonful  once  a  day  in  hot  water.  A  valuable 
remedy  for  the  fluor  albus  or  whites. 


1<JO  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

ITCH  OINTMENT. 

Take  of  tincture  of  myrrh. ...  1  qt. 
"  "  tincture  of  lobelia. . . .  1  qt. 
"  "  spirits  turpentine ....  £  pt. 

Mix  and  apply  to  the  entire  surface  night  and 
morning. 

CANCER  PLASTER. 

Take  of  red  clover  blossoms  any  desirable 
quantity,  and  water  sufficient  to  cover  them ;  boil 
gently  until  the  strength  of  the  blossoms  is  ex- 
tracted, which  will  be  in  about  an  hour ;  strain 
through  a  coarse  cloth,  and  use  pressure  sufficient 
to  force  out  all  the  liquid ;  pour  this  into  some 
convenient  vessel,  and  place  it  in  a  kettle  of  water 
over  the  fire  ;  boil  until  the  liquid  is  of  the  con- 
sistence of  tar. 

Spread  this  on  a  piece  of  linen,  or  soft  leather. 
It  is  one  of  the  best  applications  for  open  or  run- 
ning cancers  and  ill-conditioned  sores  or  ulcers  of 
every  description,  deep,  ragged-edged  and  other- 
wise badly  conditioned  burns. 

CATARRH  SNUFF. 

Take  of  blood  root .2  oz. 

"      "   skunk  cabbage.  ...••!  oz. 

"      "  lobelia £  oz. 

"      "   snake  root £  oz. 

"      "  slippery  elm 1  oz. 

All  finely  pulverized,  sifted  and  well  mixed. 
Useful  in  catarrh  and  stoppage  in  the  nose. 


BLUE  FLAG. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  121 

MEADOW-FERN  OINTMENT. 

Take  of  meadow-fern  leaves  and  balm  of  Gilead 
buds,  well  bruised  or  pounded,  each  three  ounces  ; 
fresh  lard,  a  pound.  Moisten  the  buds  with  water, 
and  simmer  them  in  the  lard  over  a  slow  fire  until 
they  cease  to  be  glutinous,  which  will  be  in  three 
or  four  hours ;  then  add  the  meadow-fern  burs, 
also  moistened  with  water,  and  continue  the  sim- 
mering until  their  strength  is  extracted,  which 
may  be  determined  by  rubbing  them  through  the 
fingers,  and  ascertaining  that  they  do  not  emit  a 
fragrant  smell.  Pass  the  ointment  through  a 
coarse  cloth  or  sieve,  and  pour  it  into  some  con- 
venient vessel. 

An  excellent  application  in  tetters,  scald  head, 
soreness  of  the  lips,  itch,  poison  from  ivy  or  dog- 
wood, and  various  cutaneous  eruptions. 

DR.  ELISHA  SMITH'S  ANTI-MERCURIAL  SYRUP. 

Take  of  sarsaparilla 2  Ibs. 

'      "    guiac.  chips I    Ib. 

'      "    blueflag 6oz. 

'      "   prickly  ash  bark 3  oz. 

'      "    liquorice 4  oz. 

'      "    stramonium*  seeds ^  oz. 

Boil  in  two  or  three  waters,  until  the  strength  is 
obtained,  forming  two  gallons  of  the  decoction  ; 
to  which  is  to  be  added,  when  cold,  one  and  a 
half  gallon  of  molasses  and  two  ounces  of  the  oil 
of  sassafras  ;  the  whole  to  be  well  shaken  together 
and  bottled  for  use. 

This  compound  is  highly  recommended  by  Dr. 

*  This  article  we  always  reject  from  the  compound,  for  rea- 
sons well  known  to  Thomsonians 


122  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

Smith  of  New  York,  for  cancerous,  scrofulous, 
and  all  other  humors  and  taints,  particularly  for 
those  forms  of  disease  produced  by  mercury  that 
every  where  exhibit  themselves,  and  venereal. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A    COURSE    OF    MEDICINE. 

This  does  not  consist  in  the  application  of  a 
single  remedy,  as  many  have  supposed,  but  of  a 
series  of  remedies,  following  each  other  in  quick 
succession,  by  which  disease  is  overcome  immedi- 
ately, instead  of  allowing  it  to  progress  a  great 
length  of  time.  It  includes  injections  to  evacuate 
the  bowels,  and  stimulate  them  to  action  ;  vapor 
bath,  to  promote  perspiration,  and  throw  from  the 
system  the  morbific  matter  that  has  been  retained  ; 
relaxants  and  stimulants,  to  arouse  nature  to  throw 
off  the  morbific  accumulations  of  the  stomach ;  a 
second  administration  of  the  injection  and  applica- 
tion of  the  vapor  bath  ;  concluding  with  washing 
over  with  cold  or  warm  saleratus  water. 

ENEMAS  OR  INJECTIONS. 

This  mode  of  administering  medicine  consti- 
tutes a  very  important  part  of  the  Thomsonian 
practice,  and  ought  not  to  be  omitted  in  conse- 
quence of  a  false  delicacy  on  the  part  of  the 
patient,  or  to  avoid  the  labor  on  the  part  of  the 
physician.  In  no  other  way  can  medicine  be  ad- 
ministered to  accomplish  so  much,  in  obstinate 
cases,  as  by  injections.  They  not  only  act  on  the 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  123 

bowels  to  remove  faecal  matter,  but  also  produce 
the  effect  with  much  more  promptness,  than  the 
medicines  composing  the  injections  will  produce, 
when  taken  into  the  stomach.  In  all  cases  of 
irritability  of  the  stomach,  colic,  stoppage  in  the 
bowels,  costiveness,  fits,  lock-jaw,  &c.,  injections 
are  indispensable.  They  should  be  prepared  in 
reference  to  the  indications  to  be  accomplished. 

If  the  object  is  simply  to  evacuate  the  bowels, 
half  a  tea-spoonful  of  composition,  and  as  much 
slippery  elm  in  a  gill  of  hot  water,  will  answer 
the  purpose.  If  to  check  a  diarrhoea,  or  for  the 
piles,  a  strong  tea  of  hemlock  bark  should  be  used 
instead  of  hot  water.  But  the  formula  under  the 
head  of  compounds,  (see  Index,)  will  be  the-  best 
for  ordinary  cases,  increasing  or  diminishing  the 
quantity  of  lobelia,  &c.,  as  the  case  may  require. 
Dr.  Thomson  says,  with  much  truth,  that  it  is 
better  to  administer  injections  ten  times  when 
they  are  not  necessary,  than  omit  them  once  when 
needed. 

VAPOR  BATH. 

This  invaluable  remedial  agent  has  been  in  use 
from  time  immemorial.  Among  the  Russians, 
Egyptians,  and  Turks,  it  has  been  used  for  cen- 
turies as  a  luxury,  and  as  a  cure  and  preventive  of 
disease.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  for  five 
hundred  years  Rome  had  no  physician  but  her 
baths,  which  they  frequented  at  least  once  a  week, 
and  by  many  daily,  whether  in  a  state  of  health 
or  sickness.  The  Rev.  W.  Tooke  says  that  he 
has  no  doubt  but  that  the  Russians  owe  their 
great  longevity,  their  extraordinary  robust  health, 
and  their  entire  exemption  from  certain  moral 
diseases,  to  their  daily  use  of  the  vapor  bath. 
13 


124  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

The  use  of  the  vapor  bath  is  quite  common  among 
the  Turkish  ladies,  who  probably  would  not  suffer 
in  point  of  beauty  and  delicacy,  by  comparison 
with  the  females  of  any  other  country,  yet  they 
use  the  vapor  bath,  followed  immediately  by  the 
cold  shower  bath,  which  gives  them  a  ruddy, 
florid  glow  of  countenance,  unknown  to  but  few 
females.  The  American  aborigines  have  their 
baths,  out  of  which  they  rush,  and  plunge  into 
cold  running  water,  beside  which  their  baths  are 
purposely  built.  In  view  of  the  fact,  that  three 
fifths  of  all  we  take  into  the  system  is  thrown  out 
through  the  pores  of  the  skin,  what  can  be  more 
important  to  health,  than  an  unobstructed  state  of 
that  organ  ?  and  what  remedial  agent  better  adapt- 
ed to  remove  the  cause  of  disease  than  the  vapor 
bath  ?  which  tends  to  remove  obstructions  from 
the  skin,  and  arouse  a  healthy  action  in  the  system, 
determines  the  blood  to  the  surface,  and  throws 
from  the  circulating  fluid  the  various  impurities 
with  which  it  is  loaded. 

The  modes  of  applying  the  vapor  are  various. 
The  most  convenient  and  economical  mode  we 
have  ever  seen,  is  a  tin  box,  about  four  inches 
square,  with  a  horizontal  partition,  about  one  and 
a  half  inches  from  the  top,  in  which  are  inserted 
five  tubes,  the  size  of  common  lamp  tubes,  to  come 
even  with  the  top  of  the  box,  with  a  hole  for 
turning  in  alcohol,  which  should  be  stopped  tight, 
and  the  partition  wiped  dry  before  lighting  the 
wicks ;  this  is  to  be  used  for  a  lamp  to  generate 
heat,  after  putting  in  wicking  and  filling  it  with 
alcohol :  another  box  of  the  same  size,  with  legs 
about  four  inches  long,  the  cover  soldered  on  to 
the  top,  and  a  half  inch  tube  inserted  to  allow  the 
steam  to  pass  off;  this  box  should  be  nearly  filled 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  125 

with  water  and  placed  over  the  lamp,  after  light- 
ing the  wicks.  Place  this  under  a  chair  in  which 
the  patient  is  to  sit,  divested  of  all  his  clothes. 
Take  a  blanket  or  a  piece  of  oiled  cloth  or  silk, 
the  size  of  a  blanket,  sew  the  sides  together,  and 
run  a  string  into  the  top,  so  as  to  draw  it  up, 
around  the  neck.  Put  this  over  the  patient  and 
chair ;  the  feet  should  be  immersed  in  warm  water 
at  the  same  time  ;  and  warming  teas  or  composi- 
tion administered  while  steaming.  A  pipe  may  be 
fixed  to  convey  the  steam  from  the  boiler  to  the 
bed,  if  the  patient  is  unable  to  sit  up,  or  to  apply 
it  to  any  portion  of  the  system.  When  there  is 
sufficient  vitality  in  the  system  to  favor  re-action, 
the  last  vapor  bath  of  the  course  should  be  follow- 
ed by  a  cold  hand-bath  or  washed  all  over  with 
cold  water ;  after  which  the  patient  should  be 
rubbed  briskly  two  or  three  minutes,  and  dressed, 
if  able.  After  remaining  in  doors  an  hour  or  two, 
he  may  take  exercise  in  the  open  air,  if  the 
weather  is  sufficiently  mild  and  pleasant,  and  he 
feels  able  so  to  do. 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  A  COURSE. 

Put  four  tea-spoonfuls  of  composition,  one  of 
valerian,  and  1-2  do.  of  cayenne  into  a  pitcher, 
pour  on  it  a  quart  of  boiling  water.  Give  the 
patient  two  thirds  of  a  cupful  of  the  tea.  Then 
administer  an  injection  according  to  the  directions 
under  that  head.  As  soon  as  the  injection  has 
done  operating,  administer  the  vapor  bath  accord- 
ing to  the  directions  on  the  preceding  page,  giving 
the  composition  tea  two  or  three  times  while 
steaming.  After  the  patient  has  remained  in  the 
bath  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  he  should  be  wiped 


jog  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

dry,  put  on  his  shirt  and  get  into  bed,  and  a 
steaming  brick  be  put  to  his  feet.  He  is  then 
ready  for  the  administration  of  the  lobelia. 

ADMINISTERING  LOBELIA. 

Put  one  tea-spoonful  of  the  seed  of  lobelia,  and 
two  of  the  herb,  well  pulverized,  into  a  cup,  add 
one  tea-spoonful  of  Cayenne,  one  of  nerve  powder, 
and  a  few  drops  of  the  oil  of  sassafras,  and  fill 
the  cup  with  hot  water.  After  it  settles,  give  four 
tea-spoonfuls  of  the  tea  once  in  ten  minutes  until 
the  patient  vomits  freefy  ;  give  in  the  mean  time 
half  a  cupful  of  the  tea  from  the  pitcher  or  penny- 
royal tea  once  in  five  minutes.  If  the  patient  is 
sick  at  the  stomach  and  does  not  vomit,  give  half 
a  cupful  of  the  tea  from  the  pitcher,  with  a  Jittle 
saleratus  in  it.  After  the  patient  has  vomited 
once,  give  porridge  and  pennyroyal  tea  freely.  If 
the  quantity  of  lobelia  mentioned  above  does  not 
produce  vomiting  and  nausea,  add  a  tea-spoonful 
of  the  seed  to  the  sediment,  fill  it  up  with  hot 
water,  and  give  the  tea  of  it  at  one  dose.  After 
the  vomiting  is  over  and  the  stomach  well  settled, 
another  injection  should  be  administered,  after 
which  the  patient  should  be  steamed  a  second 
time,  and  washed  over  with  cold  water,  if  there 
be  sufficient  heat  in  the  system  to  produce  a 
re-action.  After  the  course  is  completed,  he  may 
eat  a  light  meal,  and  if  the  weather  is  very  mild 
and  pleasant  he  can  go  out ;  if  not,  he  should 
remain  within  doors. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  127 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE    TREATMENT     OF     DIFFERENT     MANIFESTATIONS     OP 
DISEASE. 

Having  arrived  at  the  knowledge  of  what  dis- 
ease is,  its  cause,  the  indications  necessary  to  be 
accomplished,  and  the  means  to  be  used  to  accom- 
plish those  indications,  we  have  now  to  point  out 
the  particular  circumstances  or  symptoms  requiring 
the  accomplishment  of  each  of  these  indications, 
and  the  mode  of  applying  the  remedy.  This  we 
shall  endeavor  to  do  in  a  manner  so  plain  and 
simple,  that  any  person  may  not  be  at  a  loss  to 
know  what  course  to  pursue  in  any  form  of 
disease. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  different  forms  of 
disease  depends  on  constriction  or  spasm,  either 
general  or  local,  producing  an  obstruction  of  the 
secretions,  and  a  retention  of  the  morbific  impuri- 
ties of  the  system.  The  cause  is  cold,  or  any 
irritating  substance  applied  to,  or  taken  into  the 
system.  The  result  is  local  or  general  excitement, 
usually  termed  fever  or  inflammation.  Other 
forms  of  disease  depend  on  relaxation,  paralysis, 
injuries,  or  change  in  structure  of  some  organ. 
Notwithstanding  the  general  adaptedness  of  "  a 
course  of  medicine,"  as  described  in  this  work,  for 
the  cure  of  every  form  of  disease,  yet  some  of  the 
different  manifestations  of  disease  may  require  a 
modification  of  the  treatment,  so  as  to  accomplish 
the  object  sooner  and  with  less  suffering  and 
inconvenience  to  the  patient ;  we  shall  therefore 
give  a  particular  description  of  such  forms  of 
disease  and  their  symptoms  and  peculiar  treat- 
ment. 

13* 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 


FEVER. 

This  manifestation  of  disease  is  but  the  effect 
of  an  effort  of  nature  to  expel  from  the  system 
some  irritating  substance.  Its  division  into  colors 
and  classes  is  unnecessary,  as  these  different 
symptoms  are  but  the  same  cause  acting  on  differ- 
ent organs.  The  usual  symptoms  are  pain  in  the 
head,  back  and  limbs  ;  full,  quick  pulse ;  chilli- 
ness, succeeded  by  a  preternatural  degree  of  heat 
on  the  surface ;  thirst  j  tongue  coated,  and  general 
weakness. 

Treatment. — In  the  first  stages,  a  full  course 
of  medicine  is  the  best  process  to  remove  the 
cause  of  fever.  If  this  fails  to  remove  the  cause, 
and  the  pulse  is  full  and  quick,  and  the  surface  hot 
and  dry,  give  a  half  tea-spoonful  of  crawley  root  in 
some  warming  tea  once  an  hour,  and  bathe  the 
surface  in  saleratus  water,  nearly  cold,  every  two 
hours.  Give  an  injection  once  in  two  hours  until 
free  perspiration  appears  on  the  surface,  after  which 
rub  with  a  dry  woollen  cloth  once  an  hour,  and 
change  the  sheets  twice  a  day.  If  this  course 
fails  to  produce  perspiration,  put  two  tea-spoonfuls 
of  the  emetic  powder  into  a  cup  of  hot  water,  and 
give  two  tea-spoonfuls  of  the  tea  every  half  hour 
until  vomiting  is  produced.  If  there  is  a  coldness 
of  the  surface  or  extremities,  steam  freely  and 
add  a  tea-spoonful  of  Cayenne  to  the  emetic 
powder,  and  continue  its  use  until  the  surface  be- 
comes warm  and  moist,  and  the  pulse  regular.  In 
some  forms  of  fever  there  appears  to  be  a  paralyza- 
tion  of  the  nervous  system,  as  in  putrid  fever, 
where  the  common  portions  of  medicine  will  have 
no  effect  j  in  which  cases,  give  the  anti-spasmodic 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  129 

tincture  in  great  spoonful  doses,  by  injection  and 
into  the  stomach,  until  free  vomiting  is  produced. 
In  the  treatment  of  fever,  as  well  as  in  every 
other  form  of  disease,  the  quantity  and  power  of 
the  medicine  should  depend  on  the  obstinacy  of 
the  disease.  The  indications  to  be  accomplished 
in  all  colors  and  forms  of  fever,  are  to  produce  a 
free,  easy  and  general  perspiration,  and  maintain 
it ;  and  to  remove  obstructions  from  every  part  of 
the  system.  If  pennyroyal  or  catmint  tea  will  do 
this,  it  is  all  that  is  required, — but  stop  not  short 
of  giving  a  pound  of  lobelia,  and  other  things  in 
proportion,  until  you  have  accomplished  those  ob- 
jects. Many  Thomsonian  physicians  fail  to  cure 
fevers,  by  depending  on  fixed  potions  of  medicine, 
or  going  through  a  certain  process  as  directed  by 
some  medical  author :  instead  of  keeping  in  view 
the  object  for  which  the  medicine  is  given,  and 
persevering  until  that  object  is  accomplished.  We 
would  therefore  urge  upon  all  who  undertake  to 
cure  fever,  especially  of  the  typhoid  type,  to 
pursue  a  thorough  course  of  treatment  in  the  early 
stage,  and  they  will  seldom  fail  of  success.  If 
friends  object,  let  them  take  the  responsibility  and 
manage  the  case  in  their  own  way.  Suffer  no 
one  to  take  charge  of  the  patient  who  is  not 
friendly  to  the  medicine,  if  it  can  be  possibly 
avoided,  or  you  will  be  disappointed  in  the  result. 
Caution  should  be  used,  after  the  cause  is  removed, 
that  the  patient  does  not  take  cold  or  over-load 
the  stomach  and  bring  on  a  relapse,  which  is 
always  more  difficult  to  overcome  than  the  first 
attack.  After  the  fever  abates,  and  the  coating 
comes  off  the  tongue,  give  a  tea-spoonful  of  the 
spiced  bitters  three  times  a  day. 


130  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

SSf!*.\3 
AGUE  AND  FEVER. 

The  first  symptoms  of  this  form  of  disease  are — 
general  debility,  loss  of  appetite,  more  or  less  dis- 
tress at  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  obstructed  perspi- 
ration, restlessness  and  languor,  aching  in  the  back 
and  limbs,  and  increased  sensibility  to  cold. 

The  cold  stage,  or  chill. — The  chill  comes  on 
with  a  coldness  along  the  back,  and  an  irresistible 
desire  to  yawn  and  stretch.  There  is  a  general 
coldness  and  contracted  state  of  the  skin,  and  a 
sensation  down  the  back  as  from  the  trickling  of 
cold  water.  The  jaws  begin  to  quiver  or  chatter, 
and  a  general  shivering  takes  place  over  the  whole 
body  ;  which,  in  some  instances,  continues  but  a 
few  minutes,  and  in  others  for  several  hours.  The 
chill  is  succeeded  by  flashes  of  heat,  which  con- 
tinue to  increase  until  the  fever  is  fully  developed. 
Distressing  vomiting  often  occurs  at  this  period. 

The  re-action,  or  hot  stage. — In  this  stage  of 
the  disease  the  countenance  becomes  flushed,  and 
the  skin  dry  and  hot ;  the  pulse  rises  and  becomes 
full  and  strong ;  there  is  pain  in  the  head,  back 
and  extremities,  and  not  unfrequently  more  or  less 
delirium.  The  duration  of  the  fever  varies  in 
different  cases,  but  finally  effects  a  crisis  by  a 
restoration  of  the  secretions  from  the  skin  arid 
kidneys,  and  thus  terminating  in 

The  sweating  stage,  or  crisis. — As  perspiration 
takes  place,  the  breathing  becomes  less  difficult ; 
the  pulse  softens,  and  a  general  abatement  of  all 
the  distressing  symptoms  takes  place.  These  three 
stages  form  what  is  called  a  paroxysm  of  the  fever, 
which  occur  every  day,  every  other  day,  or  once 
in  three  days,  and  generally  about  the  same  hour 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  J3J 

of  the  day — the  patient  remaining  tolerably  com- 
fortable between  the  paroxysms. 

Treatment. — The  indications  of  cure  are  to  aid 
nature  in  her  efforts  to  expiel  from  the  system 
morbific  matter  on  which  the  disease  depends. 
To  do  this,  administer  a  full  and  thorough  course 
of  Thomsonian  medicine,  commencing  an  hour  or 
two  before  the  time  at  which  the  chill  comes  on. 
Bathe  the  surface  with  the  stimulating  liniment 
after  the  last  steaming.  Then  take  a  tea-spoon 
twice  full  of  Cayenne,  and  as  much  bayberry  and 
golden  seal,  and  steep  it  in  a  pint  of  hot  water,  and 
take  half  a  cupful  once  in  three  hours,  and  four 
of  the  pills  No.  1,  at  bed  time.  Avoid  for  a  short 
time  any  exposure  to  damp  or  cold  air — live  tem- 
perately— exercise  moderately,  and  bathe  the  sur- 
face every  morning  in  cold  water  if  the  weather 
be  warm,  or  Cayenne  and  vinegar  if  it  be  cold. 
If,  after  this  process,  there  are  any  symptoms  indi- 
cating a  return  of  the  disease,  take  another  course 
of  medicine,  and  repeat  every  day  until  the  symp- 
toms entirely  disappear. 

ABORTION. 

The  premature  expulsion  of  the  foetus  has  be- 
come quite  common  among  those  who,  though 
they  designedly  use  no  means  to  produce  it,  yet 
their  habits  of  compressing  the  chest  or  tight 
lacing  does  do  so,  and  still  more  so  among  those 
who  resort  to  poisons  to  accomplish  that  object. 
Language  cannot  portray  the  wickedness  of  the 
latter,  or  folly  of  the  former.  Says  Dr.  Curtis, 
"  Of  the  multitudes  that  have  sunk  under  the  pre- 
mature expulsion  of  the  foetus,  the  dark  and  silent 
regions  of  the  grave  alone  contain  the  record.  I 


132  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

have  no  doubt  that  if  all  who  have  thus  committed 
suicide,  could  array  themselves  before  us,  the 
effect  would  be  insupportable  to  the  most  hardened 
feelings  of  our  nature." 

Other  causes  than  those  mentioned  tend  to  pro- 
duce abortion,  such  as  falls,  reaching  too  high, 
frights,  lifting,  .hard  labor,  grief,  &c.  The  usual 
symptoms  are  pain  in  the  back,  loins,  and  lower 
part  of  the  abdomen,  chills,  nausea,  flowing  and 
palpitation  of  the  heart. 

Treatment. — In  this  case,  the  old  adage  is  em- 
phatically applicable,  that  "  an  ounce  of  prevention 
is  worth  a  pound  of  cure."  Let  those  who  are 
expecting  to  become  mothers,  whose  habits  of 
compressing  the  chest  predisposes  them  to  an 
abortion,  take  one  or  two  courses  of  medicine  to 
relax  the  muscles  of  the  abdomen,  and  two  of  the 
pills  No.  1,  at  night.  When  the  symptoms  of 
abortion  are  exhibited,  take  freely  of  composition, 
and  put  a  jug  of  warm  water  at  the  feet.  If  this 
does  not  relieve,  take  a  full  course  of  medicine, 
which,  if  it  has  not  progressed  too  far,  will  pre- 
vent it ;  if  so,  it  will  assist  nature  to  expel  the 
foetus,  the  life  of  which  has  now  become  extinct  in 
consequence  of  the  detachment  of  the  placenta ; 
after  which  take  the  Female  Restorative  three 
times  a  day  before  eating,  and  two  of  the  pills  No. 
1,  at  night. 

AGUE  IN  THE  FACE. 

The  face  on  one  side,  or  both,  frequently  be- 
comes swollen  and  exceedingly  painful,  depending 
on  decayed  or  ulcerated  teeth  or  a  cold. 

Treatment. — Inhale  the  steam  of  Cayenne  and 
vinegar,  and  tie  up  a  tea-spoonful  of  Cayenne  in  a 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  133 

thin  rag  and  put  it  between  the  gum  and  cheek, 
and  it  will  produce  a  free  discharge  of  saliva, 
which  usually  affords  relief.  If  this  does  not 
remove  the  pain  and  swelling,  a  full  course  of 
medicine  should  be  resorted  to. 

ASTHMA  AND  PHTHISIC. 

The  symptoms  of  these  forms  of  disease  are, 
difficulty  of  breathing,  which  generally  comes  on 
towards  night,  tightness  across  the  chest,  together 
with  a  peculiar  wheezing,  being  frequently  threat- 
ened with  immediate  suffocation  on  attempting  to 
lie  down.  Towards  morning  the  symptoms  abate, 
and  the  patient  feels  much  easier.  At  other  times 
the  symptoms  are  so  mild  as  to  subject  the  patient 
to  little  inconvenience,  and  in  children  it  is  usually 
called  phthisic. 

Treatment. — Haifa  tea-spoonful  of  tincture  lo- 
belia, or  half  tea-spoonful  of  skunk  cabbage,  repeat- 
ed as  occasion  requires,  in  half  a  cupful  of  penny- 
royal tea,  will  usually  afford  immediate  relief. 
For  a  permanent  cure,  take  two  or  three  full 
courses  of  medicine  in  as  many  days,  after  which 
take  spiced  bitters,  composition,  and  pills  No.  1, 
according  to  directions,  for  two  or  three  weeks. 

ABSCESS  AND  BOILS. 

An  abscess  or  boil  is  produced  by  an  effort  of 
nature  to  throw  from  the  system  morbific  matter. 

Treatment. — Apply  a  poultice  of  slippery  elm, 
lobelia  and  a  little  soft  soap,  which  will  soon  bring 
it  to  a  head.  When  it  is  fit  for  opening,  which 
may  be  known  by  the  thinness  of  the  skin  in  the 
most  prominent  part  of  it,  it  should  be  punctured 
with  a  lancet  or  some  sharp-pointed  instrument. 


134  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

BLEEDING  FROM  THE  NOSE. 

The  blood-vessels  of  the  nose  are  more  easily 
ruptured  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  system ; 
when,  therefore,  there  is  a  determination  of  blood 
to  the  head,  or  any  external  violence,  a  profuse 
discharge  sometimes  takes  place. 

Treatment. — Immerse  the  feet  in  warm  water, 
and  drink  freely  of  composition  or  pennyroyal  tea 
to  equalize  the  circulation ;  and  it  will  soon  cease. 

BLEEDING  FROM  THE  LUNGS  AND  STOMACH. 

These  are  usually  considered  dangerous  forms  of 
disease ;  but  their  danger  depends  on  other  symp- 
toms. If  there  are  other  symptoms  of  consump- 
tion, bleeding  from  the  lungs  is  difficult  to  cure. 

Treatment. — A  strong  tea  of  witch  hazel  leaves 
will  usually  check  bleeding  from  the  lungs  or 
stomach.  If  this  does  not  check  it,  give  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  composition  once  in  fifteen  minutes, 
and  immerse  the  feet  in  hot  water.  After  giving 
composition  two  or  three  times,  add  half  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  anti-spasmodic  tincture  to  the  same, 
and  continue  it  until  vomiting  is  produced.  No 
danger  need  be  apprehended  in  taking  an  emetic 
of  lobelia.  I  have  given  them  repeatedly  in  these 
cases  with  the  happiest  result. 

BRUISES  OR  INJURIES  FROM  BLOWS  OR  FALLS 

If  the  injury  be  not  very  severe,  bathing  with 
cold  water,  hot  drops,  or  wormwood  moistened 
with  spirits,  and  taking  a  tea-spoonful  of  composi- 
tion, is  all  that  is  required.  But  if  very  severe, 
the  vapor  bath  should  be  immediately  adminis- 
tered, with  a  free  use  of  composition,  which  is  far 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  135 

preferable  to  bleeding.  If  the  patient  is  injured 
so  as  to  be  insensible,  put  down  the  throat  or  give 
by  injection  a  great  spoonful  of  anti-spasmodic 
tincture,  which  will  restore  sensibility.  In  some 
cases,  a  thorough  course  of  medicine  ought  to  be 
administered. 

BURNS  OR  SCALDS. 

The  best  application  that  can  be  made  to  burns 
or  scalds,  when  first  done,  is  cold  water.  Take  a 
cloth  wet  in  cold  water,  and  wrap  several  thick- 
nesses round  or  lay  on  the  part,  to  be  wet  as  often 
as  the  pain  returns.  Give  warm  medicine  inter- 
nally. If  the  skin  is  broken,  apply  a  poultice  of 
slippery  elm,  wet  with  raspberry  leaf  tea. 

CANCER. 

Cancer  usually  seats  upon  the  fleshy  portions 
of  the  system,  as  the  breast,  lip,  &c.  It  com- 
mences with  a  small  hard  bunch,  gradually  in- 
creasing, attended  with  sharp,  lancinating  pains,  as 
though  needles  were  being  run  through  it.  It 
sometimes  continues  in  this  way  a  number  of 
years,  at  other  times  it  proceeds  rapidly  to  ulcer- 
ation,  discharging  a  thin,  acrimonious  fluid,  cor- 
roding and  destroying  the  contiguous  parts. 

Treatment. — If  suppuration  has  not  already 
commenced,  the  sorrel  salve  or  the  dried  juice  of 
wood  sorrel  should  be  applied ;  or  if  this  fail  to 
produce  suppuration,  the  caustic  potash,  prepared 
by  burning  red  oak  bark  to  ashes,  in  a  stove  or  on 
a  clean  hearth,  drain  boiling  water  through  them 
till  the  strength  is  obtained ;  boil  the  lye  to  the 
consistence  of  brown  sugar.  Keep  it  in  a  glass- 
stopped  bottle,  as  it  destroys  cork.  Put  some  on 
14 


136  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

the  cancer  for  fifteen  minutes.  If  it  smarts  much, 
sponge  it  with  vinegar ;  wash  it  off  with  warm 
soap  suds,  made  of  Castile  soap.  The  cancer 
plaster  mentioned  in  this  work  should  then  be 
applied.  Then  poultice  with  lobelia,  slippery 
elm,  and  catmint.  After  which  apply  the  elder 
salve.  Courses  of  medicine  should  be  frequently 
given,  and  a  syrup  of  pipsissiway,  sarsaparilla,  and 
yellow  dock  root  taken  freely. 

CHICKEN  POX. 

This  eruption  is  usually  preceded  by  feverish 
symptoms.  About  the  second  or  third  day,  the 
pimples  become  filled  with  a  watery  fluid,  which 
is  never  converted  into  yellow  matter  as  in  the 
small  pox  j  and  about  the  fifth  day,  they  usually 
dry  away,  and  are  formed  into  crusts  or  scabs. 

Treatment. — Give  composition  or  saffron  and 
snake  root  tea,  which  is  all  the  medicine  that  is 
usually  required  in  this  form  of  disease.  Should 
the  constitution  of  the  patient  be  so  feeble  that  the 
eruption  is  not  well  thrown  out,  a  course  of  medi- 
cine should  be  administered,  and  repeated  if 
necessary. 

COLIC. 

This  form  of  disease  is  attended  with  severe 
pain  in  the  bowels,  nausea,  and  sometimes  vomit- 
ing, and  distention  of  the  stomach.  It  is  usually 
occasioned  by  some  acrid  substance  taken  into  or 
generated  in  the  stomach,  such  as  unripe  fruit, 
vitiated  bile  or  gas,  undigested  food,  &c. 
:  Treatment. — Some  cases  require  thorough  treat- 
ment. Nothing  will  afford  relief  so  quick  as 
enemas,  which  should  be  given  every  ten  minutes 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  137 

until  relief  is  obtained ;  then  cleanse  the  syringe, 
and  administer  a  pint  of  slippery  elm  tea  by  in- 
jection, to  soothe  the  bowels.  It  is  sometimes 
necessary  to  give  a  full  course  of  medicine.  Mild 
cases  may  be  cured  by  taking  a  tea-spoonful  of, 
composition,  hot  drops,  or  some  aromatic  tea.  A 
few  drops  of  anti-spasmodic  tincture  in  pepper- 
mint tea,  is  excellent. 

CONSUMPTION. 

Pulmonary  consumption  is  characterized  byj 
emaciation,  debility,  cough,  hectic  fever,  and  pu- 
rulent expectoration,  night  sweats,  &c.  One  writer 
enumerates  thirty  different  species  of  consump-j 
tion ;  but  this  enumeration  seems  unnecessary  for 
practical  purposes.  When  one  lobe  is  affected,1 
the  disease  is  very  slow  in  its  progress,  often  last- 
ing for  many  years ;  but  when  the  substance  of  j 
both  lungs  is  affected,  the  disease  progresses  rapid- 
ly, commonly  called  the  galloping  consumption.  : 

This  disease  has  prevailed  extensively  from  the 
earliest  periods  of  history  to  the  present  time,  and 
has  swept  more  from  the  earth  than  the  sword  or 
famine.  In  all  northern  climates  it  commits  the 
most  terrible  ravages.  A  writer,  some  years 
since,  computed  that  out  of  a  population  of  eleven 
millions,  in  the  island  of  Great  Britain,  fifty-five 
thousand  annually  died  of  the  consumption ;  and 
the  same  fatality  attends  the  disease  in  this 
climate.  I  presume  one  third  of  all  those  who 
die  in  this  country  are  taken  off  by  pneumonic 
diseases,  or  affections  of  the  lungs ;  all  which 
shows  not  only  the  prevalence  and  fatality  of  the 
complaint,  but  likewise  the  inefficacy  of  the  vari- 
ous methods  of  treatment,  including  the  vast 
number  of  boasted  nostrums  of  the  day,  with 


138  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

which  the  community  are  now  so  shamefully  de- 
ceived and  imposed  upon. 

A  consumptive  taint  may  be  transmitted  from 
parents  to  children,  and  produce  a  development 
of  the  disease  at  different  periods  of  their  lives, 
owing  to  those  circumstances  which  are  calculated 
to  call  this  consumptive  predisposition  into  action. 
A  whole  family  has  enjoyed  comparative  good 
health,  till  a  certain  period  of  life,  when,  upon  a 
sudden  attack  of  severe  cold,  or  some  other  excit- 
ing cause,  consumption  has  supervened  and  proved 
fatal  to  all ;  no  doubt,  some  such  case  has  come 
under  the  observation  of  the  reader. 

Among  the  remote  causes,  we  may  enumerate 
the  particular  formation  of  the  body;  such  as 
prominent  shoulders,  narrow  chests,  &c.;  scrofu- 
lous habit,  bronchitis,  pneumonia  scrofula,  and  the 
sequel  of  eruptive  diseases ;  particular  employ- 
ments, exposing  the  person  to  inhalation  of  dusty 
particles  of  matter,  and  fumes  of  metals  and  mine- 
rals; sedentary  life,  depressing  passions,  great 
evacuations,  intemperance,  nursing  of  infants  too 
long,  and  whatever  else  induces  debility ;  tight 
lacing,  which  serves  to  compress  the  chest  and 
circumscribe  the  action  of  the  pulmonary  mus- 
cles ;  and  lastly,  the  application  of  cold  to  the 
body,  when  in  a  state  of  perspiration,  which  is  by 
far  the  most  common  of  all  causes ;  which  shows 
the  danger  of  the  ball-room,  where  exercise  is  per- 
formed till  the  pores  are  opened,  and  suddenly 
closed  by  the  application  of  cold,  which  ends  in 
consumption;  nearly  every  patient  who  applies- 
for  medical  aid,  in  speaking  of  the  cause  of  his 
disease,  refers  to  the  time  when  he  experienced  a 
sudden  check  of  perspiration,  and  dates  it  from 
that  period. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  jgg 

I  may  also  mention  those  positions  of  the  body 
which  oblige  the  person  to  continue  long  in  a 
stooping  posture,  as  at  the  desk,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  shoes,  factories,  sewing,  &c.;  also  such 
employments  as  keep  the  hands  and  feet  unnatu- 
rally cold.  j 

The  proximate  or  immediate  cause  may  be 
ascribed  to  irritation  on  the  delicate  coat  of  the 
lungs,  producing  organic  change  or  lesion  of  their 
structure,  subsequently  inducing  tubercles  or 
ulcers.  There  is  a  deleterious  agent  or  fluid 
carried  to  this  organ,  which  all  of  us  daily  receive 
into  the  system  in  our  food  and  drink,  instead  of 
being  carried  off  by  the  excretory  vessels  of  the 
system.  As  an  evidence  of  this,  we  find  that  as 
soon  as  a  person  whose  lungs  are  weak,  or  who  is 
predisposed  to  consumption,  experiences  a  check 
of  perspiration,  or  to  use  a  common  expression, 
takes  cold,  he  immediately  feels  an  irritation  on 
the  lungs,  and  begins  to  cough.  This  demon- 
strates that  there  is  an  offending  matter,  or  nox- 
ious agent,  which  should  be  carried  off  by  per- 
spiration ;  hence  the  importance  of  keeping  up  a 
uniform  determination  to  the  surface,  in  order  to 
preserve  health.  j 

Treatment. — It  is  generally  supposed  that  pul- 
monary consumption  is  incurable.  But  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Thomsonian  practice  in  curing  this 
form  of  disease,  goes  to  prove  that  in  many  cases 
it  can  be  cured.  The  patient,  in  order  to  be  cured, 
must  be  willing  to  pursue  strictly  the  prescribed 
course ;  denying  himself  of  every  indulgence  that 
is  injurious,  and  faithfully  attending  to  every  pre- 
scription calculated  to  benefit  him.  \ 

It  is  generally  necessary  to  administer  two  or 
three  courses  of  medicine  iu  a  week,  after  having 
14* 


140  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

prepared  the  system  for  them  hy  taking  warming 
medicines  a  number  of  days  previously.  Between 
the  courses,  take  one  of  the  pills  No.  1,  every  four 
hours,  and  the  composition  and  spiced  bitters  ac- 
cording to  the  directions  under  the  head  of  com- 
pounds. 

A  proper  regard  to  diet,  exercise  and  air,  is  very 
important  in  consumptive  cases.  The  food  should 
consist  of  coarse  wheat  bread,  rice,  ripe  fruit,  &c.,' 
eaten  at  regular  meals  only,  and  regular  exercise 
in  the  open  air,  if  the  strength  and  weather  per-' 
mit.  An  effort  should  be  made  to  exercise  as 
much  as  possible,  as  many  persons  have  been 
cured  by  a  persevering  effort  of  this  kind.  The 
surface  should  be  bathed  all  over  twice  a  day  in 
cold  water,  if  there  be  sufficient  vitality  to  produce 
re-action ;  or  if  not,  brandy  and  water,  followed 
by  friction  with  a  coarse  towel  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes.  The  feet  should  be  protected  from  wet 
and  cold. 

CHOLERA  MORBUS,  DIARRHOEA,  AND  DYSENTERY. 

These  forms  of  disease  are  considered  some- 
what different ;  but  the  same  method  of  treatment 
may  be  properly  applied  to  each.  In  the  first 
stages,  or  in  mild  attacks,  the  diarrhoea  powder  or 
syrup  taken  according  to  directions  will  effect  a 
cure.  If  the  attack  is  severe,  a  full  course  of 
medicine  should  be  given,  followed  up  by  in- 
jections, containing  a  large  proportion  of  slippery 
elm,  every  half  hour,  until  relief  is  obtained.  For 
children,  a  tea  of  slippery  elm  and  loaf  sugar 
should  be  given  freely ;  also  the  diarrhoea  powders, 
and  injections  of  hemlock  bark. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  141 

CONVULSIONS  OR  FITS. 

Fits  are  occasioned  by  an  effort  of  nature  to 
overcome  some  obstruction.  j 

Treatment. — In  cases  of  fits  of  every  descrip- 
tion, an  injection  should  be  administered,  com- 
posed  of  slippery  elm  and  anti-spasmodic  tincture, 
in  quantity  according  to  age  and  severity  of  the 
attack,  as  soon  as  possible.  If  the  jaws  are  locked, 
put  some  of  the  anti-spasmodic  tincture  into  the 
back  part  of  the  mouth,  and  they  will  soon  be- 
come relaxed,  then  give  a  great  suoonful  in  some 
kind  of  warming  tea.  In  order  to  effect  a  perma- 
nent cure,  full  courses  of  medicine  should  be 
resorted  to,  with  a  constant  stimulant  and  tonic 
treatment.  Regard  should  also  be  had  to  diet  and 
exercise  in  the  open  air,  which  are  a  sine  qua  non 
in  the  cure  of  all  cases. 

CORNS. 

To  cure  these  troublesome  consequences  of 
tight  shoes,  avoid  the  first  cause,  or  wear  shoes 
sufficiently  large  for  the  foot,  and  wear  a  piece  of 
India  rubber  over  the  corn,  and  a  cure  is  certain. 

CROUP. 

This  heretofore  frightful  form  of  disease,  which 
has  ever  baffled  the  skill  of  the  faculty,  and  proved 
so  almost  universally  fatal  under  their  treatment, 
is  generally  too  well  known  in  this  country,  from 
unpleasant  experience  and  observation,  to  need 
much  explanation  by  way  of  description,  for  every 
American  mother  must  sooner  or  later  have  wit- 
nessed more  or  less  cases.  It  is  a  form  of  disease 
peculiar  to  children,  and  has  seldom  or  never  been 


142  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH 

known  to  attack  a  person  who  has  arrived  at  years 
of  puberty.  It  mostly  attacks  infants,  who  are 
suddenly  seized  with  difficulty  of  breathing,  attend- 
ed with  a  rattling  noise — and  like  a  multiplicity 
of  other  forms  of  disease,  is  caused  by  the  appli- 
cation of  cold,  or,  which  is  synonymous,  a  loss  of 
the  requisite  quantity  of  heat  for  maintaining  a 
healthy  action  in  the  animal  economy,  and  conse- 
quently occurs  more  frequently  in  the  winter  and 
spring  than  in  other  seasons.  In  cases  of  croup, 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  trachea  or  windpipe 
becomes  greatly  inflamed,  which  induces  a  great 
secretion  of  a  very  tenacious  coagulated  lymph  or 
mucous  matter  in  the  windpipe  and  bronchial  ves- 
sels, which  greatly  impedes  respiration,  and  if  not 
relieved,  in  most  cases  will  sooner  or  later  prove 
fatal  by  suffocation,  or  total  obstruction  of  the 
respiratory  organs. 

Treatment. — In  treating  croup,  thorough,  and 
sometimes  often-repeated  emetics  should  never  be 
neglected,  as  they  are  almost  the  only  prescription 
upon  which  much  reliance  can  be  placed  ;  and 
lobelia  is  undoubtedly  the  most  safe  and  effectual 
for  this  purpose  of  any  thing  known.  It  may  be 
administered  in  powder  or  in  an  infusion,  and  in 
cases  in  which  children  are  obstinate  in  taking 
medicine,  the  latter  is  preferable.  A  sufficient 
quantity  should  be  given  in  all  cases,  to  produce  a 
thorough  evacuation  of  the  stomach,  as  there  is 
little  or  no  danger  from  the  size  of  the  dose,  as  no 
more  will  be  used  in  the  stomach  than  is  necessary 
to  produce  the  requisite  cleansing  and  evacuation, 
the  excess  being  thrown  off  as  useless.  The 
tincture  or  infusion  of  lobelia  may  be  continued 
in  small  doses  of  a  tea-spoonful  or  so,  after  the 
stomach  has  been  well  cleansed  and  evacuated, 


A  GUTDE  TO  HEALTH.  143 

and  it  will  produce  an  excellent  effect  of  arousing 
action  in  the  stomach,  loosening  the  viscid  secre- 
tions upon  tho  mucous  membrane  of  the  trachea 
or  windpipe,  promote  expectoration,  and  allay  the 
inflammation  which  usually  accompanies  and  par- 
ticularly affects  the  bronchial  vessels.  If  the 
emetic  in  cases  of  croup  does  not  operate  freely  and 
effectually,  enemas  or  injections,  well  charged  with 
tincture  or  third  preparation,  should  be  repeated 
until  the  stomach  is  effectually  cleansed  from  all 
impurities.  The  child  during  the  operation  of  the 
medicine  should,  if  possible,  be  made  to  perspire 
freely,  which  may  be  done  by  feeding  it  with 
warm  herb  drinks  and  composition  tea,  by  warm 
bathing,  putting  warm  bricks  or  boiled  blocks 
about  the  child  in  the  cradle  or  bed. 

CATARRH  IN  THE  HEAD. 

The  glands  and  membranes  of  the  head  secrete 
a  fluid  to  keep  the  mouth,  nose  and  eyes  moist, 
which  sometimes  become  obstructed,  causing  a 
flow  from  the  nostrils,  makes  the  eyes  tender,  irri- 
tates the  nose  and  occasions  sneezing,  or  falls  into 
the  throat  and  windpipe,  and  causes  coughing, 
and,  if  long  continued,  the  consumption. 

Treatment. — Take  one  or  two  full  courses  of 
medicine,  then  use  the  catarrh  snuff  mentioned  in 
this  work.  Dr.  Beach  recommends  the  following- 
remedy  :  "  Take  common  sage  a  table-spoonful, 
black  pepper  a  tea-spoonful ;  pulverize,  and  smoke 
two  or  three  pipes  during  the  day,  and  force  the 
smoke  through  the  nose."  Dr.  Leavitt,  of  New 
York,  recommends  a  snuff  of  blood  root,  gum 
arabic,  and  gum  myrrh,  equal  parts,  pulverized. 


144  1A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

CHILBLAINS. 

These  are  painful  swellings,  attended  with  in- 
tolerable itching,  which  make  their  appearance  on 
the  hands,  feet,  nose,  ears,  and  lips,  in  cold 
weather. 

Treatment. — Bathe  frequently  in  the  rheumatic 
drops,  and  apply  the  meadow-fern  ointment.  If 
there  is  much  pain  or  inflammation,  apply  the  elm 
poultice. 

COLDS  AND  COUGHS. 

The  application  of  cold  to  the  body,  giving  a 
check  to  perspiration,  is  the  general  cause  of  these 
complaints.  A  cold  is  usually  attended  with  dif- 
ficulty of  breathing,  a  sense  of  fulness  and  stop- 
ping in  the  nose,  head-ache,  cough,  &c. 

Treatment. — Take  a  tea-spoonful  of  composi- 
tion and  two  of  the  pills  No.  1,  at  night,  which 
will  generally  cure.  If  the  cough  should  con- 
tinue troublesome,  take  the  cough  drops  or  pow- 
ders mentioned  in  this  work.  Should  these  fail 
to  break  up  the  cold,  take  a  full  course  of  medi- 
cine and  avoid  exposure  for  a  few  days,  and  a 
cure  is  certain. 

COSTIVENESS. 

Costiveness  is  generally  occasioned  by  improper 
food  and  sedentary  habits ;  and  the  best  remedy 
is  to  take  active  exercise  in  the  open  air,  and  live 
principally  on  coarse  wheat  bread,  fruit,  rye  pud- 
ding, &c.;  avoiding  tea,  coffee,  fine  flour  bread, 
and  physic. 


;  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  145 

DIABETES. 

The  diabetes  is  an  excessive,  frequent,  and 
sometimes  an  involuntary  flow  of  urine.  It  is 
accompanied  with  great  debility,  costiveness,  vora- 
cious appetite,  emaciation,  &c. 

Treatment. — The  most  important  indication  in 
this  form  of  disease  is  to  increase  the  action  of  the 
skin  and  produce  free  perspiration.  For  this  pur- 
pose the  vapor  bath  should  be  frequently  used,  and 
the  sudorific  powders  taken  at  night.  The  spiced 
bitters  should  be  taken  three  times  a  day,  and  the 
surface  bathed  in  Cayenne  and  vinegar  every 
morning.  If  the  patient  is  advanced  in  years  and 
the  constitution  broken  down,  if  the  course  pre- 
scribed above  does  not  cure,  it  may  be  considered 
incurable.  But  if  young  and  tolerably  healthy  in 
other  respects,  apply  thorough  courses  of  medicine 
until  a  cure  is  effected. 

DELIRIUM  TREMENS. 

This  horrid  disease  is  confined  principally  to 
those  who  are  addicted  to  the  free  use  of  ardent 
spirits.  The  patient  imagines  he  is  surrounded 
by  robbers,  reptiles,  or  wild  animals,  and  flies  to 
the  door  or  window  to  escape.  His  hands  become 
tremulous,  and  he  is  restless  and  talkative. 

Treatment. — A  full  course  of  medicine  should 
be  administered,  steaming  the  patient  in  bed  with 
heated  stones  wrapped  in  a  damp  cloth,  placed  at 
the  feet  and  back.  Give  frequently  of  valerian  or 
scullcap  tea  during  its  operation.  The  injections 
should  be  repeated  and  their  strength  increased, 
until  the  patient  is  quiet  and  inclined  to  sleep.  It 
is  found  that  kind  treatment  is  much  more  sue- 


146  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

cessful  in  restoring  the  patient  than  violence,  as  is 
usually  the  case  under  all  other  circumstances. 

DROPSY. 

Dropsy  is  an  accumulation  of  watery  fluid  in 
the  cellular  membrane,  or  any  of  the  cavities  of 
the  body.  It  is  caused  by  a  weakness  of  the  ab- 
sorbent vessels,  which  are  unable  to  take  up  the 
fluid  and  discharge  it  from  the  system  through 
the  natural  channels. 

Treatment. — In  the  early  stages,  this  form  of 
disease  may  be  cured  by  a  free  use  of  the  diuretic 
syrup,  stimulating  conserve  and  pills  No.  2,  with  a 
vapor  bath  occasionally.  But  in  the  more  ad- 
vanced stages,  full  courses  of  medicine  are  required, 
repeated  once  or  twice  a  week.  The  patient 
should  avoid  drinking  much,  and  live  principally 
on  dry  food. 

DISLOCATIONS  AND  FRACTURES. 

Simple  fractures  or  dislocations  may  be  reduced 
by  any  person  of  common  mechanical  ingenuity. 
The  first  object  is  to  relax  the  muscles.  The 
world  is  indebted  to  Dr.  Thomson  for  the  best 
mode  of  accomplishing  this  object.  He  directs 
the  patient  to  take  a  dose  of  Cayenne  and  valerian, 
to  promote  perspiration,  &c.  Then  wet  a  large 
cloth  in  hot  water,  and  apply  as  hot  as  can  be 
borne,  around  the  injured  part,  and  for  some  dis- 
tance above  and  below  it.  'This  being  done,  hold 
a  vessel  under,  and  pour  on  water  as  hot  as  can 
be  applied  without  pain,  and  so  continue  for  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes,  when  the  cloth  must  be  taken 
off,  and  the  bone  or  bones  placed  in  their  proper 
position.  If  the  case  be  a  broken  bone,  it  must 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  147 

be  splintered ;  but  if  it  be  a  joint  out  of  place, 
nothing  more  will  be  necessary  than  to  pour  cold 
water  on  the  part,  which  will  contract  the  muscles 
and  keep  the  bone  in  its  proper  position.  Lobelia 
taken  in  broken  doses,  will  also  produce  relaxation 
of  the  muscles,  and  is  often  very  necessary  in 
dislocation  or  fracture  of  large  bones.  Difficult 
cases  of  this  kind  will,  of  course,  require  the  aid 
of  experienced  surgeons. 

DYSPEPSIA,  OR  INDIGESTION. 

This  form  of  disease  may  depend  on  any  cause 
tending  to  produce  weakness  or  inaction  of  the 
stomach,  or  obstruction  in  the  secretion  of  gastric 
juice  or  bile.  It  is  usually  attended  with  pain 
after  eating,  costiveness,  emaciation,  colic,  lowness 
of  spirits,  languor,  &c. 

Treatment. — The  symptoms  attending  this  form 
of  disease  may  be  relieved  by  medicine,  but  the 
cure  can  alone  be  effected  by  proper  diet  and  ex- 
ercise. The  anti-dyspeptic  powders  will  relieve 
the  pain  and  soreness  of  the  stomach  after  eating ; 
pills  No.  2  and  injections  should  be  used  for  the 
costiveness,  and  a  course  of  medicine  occasionally, 
to  throw  off  the  morbid  accumulations,  and  stimu- 
late the  different  organs  to  action.  The  diet 
should  be  simple,  avoiding  tea,  coffee,  butter,  pork, 
and  use  but  little  meat  of  any  kind.  The  coarse 
wheat  bread  is  one  of  the  very  best  articles  of 
food  in  the  complaint.  Pour  or  five  hours'  active 
exercise  in  the  open  air  should  be  taken  every  day, 
and  the  whole  body  bathed  in  cold  water  every 
morning,  followed  by  brisk  friction  with  a  coarse 
towel.  Sedentary  occupation  should  be  given  up, 
and  those  more  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of 
nature  substituted. 
15 


148  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

ERYSIPELAS,  OR  ST.  ANTHONY'S  FIRE. 

This  form  of  disease  sometimes  attacks  all  parts 
of  the  body,  but  is  usually  confined  to  the  face 
and  extremities.  The  inflammation  appears  in  a 
small  spot,  and  gradually  spreads  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent  over  the  surrounding  surface.  When 
confined  to  the  face,  the  symptoms  are  sometimes 
violent,  swelling  so  as  to  close  the  eye-lids.  On 
the  fourth  or  fifth  day,  blisters  of  different  sizes 
make  their  appearance  on  the  inflamed  surface, 
containing  a  clear  and  watery  fluid  which  after- 
wards becomes  of  a  straw  color  and  more  or  less 
glutinous.  In  twenty -four  or  forty-eight  hours 
the  blisters  break,  when  the  redness  and  swelling 
begin  to  subside,  and  the  adjacent  cuticle  peals  oft' 
in  the  form  of  scales. 

Ti°eatment. — In  mild  cases  of  this  form  of  dis- 
ease, a  tea  of  meadow  fern,  taken  freely  and  used 
for  bathing,  is  all  that  is  required.  In  more  severe 
cases,  composition  and  injections  should  be  used, 
and  if  necessary  a  full  course  of  medicine,  repeat- 
ed as  occasion  may  require.  A  poultice  of  slip- 
pery elm  will  soothe  the  irritation  and  relieve  the 
pain. 

EAR-ACHE. 

Children  are  peculiarly  liable  to  this  distress- 
ing form  of  disease,  occasioned  by  exposure  to 
cold  and  dampness,  or  an  abscess  forming  in  the 
ear. 

Treatment. — The  ear-ache  may  be  relieved  by 
steaming  the  side  of  the  head,  and  using  the  warm 
foot  bath.  The  heart  of  a  roasted  onion,  put  into 
the  ear  as  hot  as  it  can  be  borne,  will  generally 
relieve.  Syringing  the  ear  with  warm  soap-suds 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  149 

will  sometimes  relieve  the  pain.  A  bath  of  hops, 
simmered  in  vinegar  and  applied  warm,  has  been 
found  very  beneficial. 


FALLING  OF  THE  FUNDAMENT. 

This  is  often  met  with  in  children,  occasioned 
by  debility  and  relaxation  of  the  parts. 

Treatment. — It  should  be  gently  replaced  with 
the  fingers,  smeared  in  lard  or  sweet  oil.  If  inflam- 
mation and  swelling  have  taken  place,  so  that  it 
cannot  be  easily  returned,  steam  the  part  and  poul- 
tice with  slippery  elm.  Injections  of  hemlock, 
witch  hazel  or  sumach  will  be  found  useful  to 
strengthen  the  debilitated  parts.  The  bowels 
should  be  kept  free. 

FELONS  AND  WHITLOWS. 

Felons  and  whitlows  are  very  painful,  being 
an  inflammation  of  the  covering  membrane  of  the 
bone,  and  usually  attack  the  finger  joints. 

Treatment. — As  soon  as  matter  forms,  an  in- 
cision may  be  made  with  a  lancet  to  let  it  out. 
Dr.  Thomson  recommends  burning  a  piece  of 
punk  the  size  of  a  pea  on  the  affected  part,  cover- 
ing the  other  portions  of  the  finger  with  a  cloth 
or  napkin  wetted  with  cold  water.  The  burning 
may  be  repeated,  if  necessary ;  and  the  pain,  it  is 
said,  is  very  slight.  As  soon  as  the  vitality  of  the 
skin  is  destroyed,  it  is  to  be  punctured  with  a 
needle,  slightly  elevated,  and  a  small  portion  of  it 
cut  away,  so  that  the  pus  may  escape.  This 
accomplished,  the  elm  and  ginger  poultice  may  be 
applied  as  on  any  other  sore. 


150  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

FLUOR  ALBUS,  OR  WHITES, 

Is  so  called  from  its  appearance,  which,  though 
at  first  it  is  generally  milky,  sometimes  changes  to 
green,  yellow  or  even  brown,  shows  itself  in  an 
irregular  discharge  from  the  uterus  and  vagina. 
It  is  often  attended  with  severe  pain  in  the  back 
and  loins,  weakness,  loss  of  appetite,  dejection  of 
spirits,  paleness  and  chilliness,  and  sometimes  by 
difficult  respiration,  palpitations,  faintings,  and 
swelling  of  the  lower  extremities. 

Treatment. — Full  courses  of  medicine  should 
be  administered  twice  a  week,  and  the  composi- 
tion and  pills  No.  1  intermediately,  with  injections 
"per  vaginam"  of  a  strong  tea  of  witch  hazel,  and 
the  female  restorative  three  times  a  day,  until  a 
cure  is  effected.  ' 

GOUT. 

This  is  a  very  painful  form  of  disease,  generally 
attacking  the  small  joints.  It  usually  attacks  men 
who  indulge  in  high  living,  and  lead  a  sedentary 
life.  A  celebrated  physician  recommended  to  a 
person  afflicted  with  the  gout,  that  he  live  upon  a 
sixpence  a  day,  and  earn  it.  Attacks  of  this  com- 
plaint rarely  occur  before  the  age  of  thirty-five  or 
forty. 

Treatment. — The  affected  part  should  be 
bathed  with  the  stimulating  liniment,  and  full 
courses  of  medicine  repeated  until  relief  is  obtain- 
ed. The  elm  poultice  should  also  be  used. 

GRAVEL,  OR  STONE. 

The  formation  of  small,  sand-like  concretions 
in  the  passage  from  the  kidneys  is  called  the 
gravel;  but  if  they  are  formed  of  so  large  size 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  151 

that  they  cannot  pass  the  ureters,  or  urethra,  it  is 
called  the  stone.  The  gravel  often  afflicts  aged 
persons ;  the  stone,  children  from  infancy  to  fifteen 
years  of  age.  They  are  attended  with  fixed  pain 
in  the  loins  or  small  of  the  back,  sometimes 
shooting  down  the  thighs,  numbness  of  the  thigh 
or  leg  on  the  side  affected,  frequent  disposition  to 
pass  water,  which  flows  in  a  small  quantity, 
sometimes  attended  with  a  discharge  of  bloody 
urine. 

Treatment. — The  best  article  we  have  ever 
used  as  a  solvent  for  the  stone,  is  queen  of  the 
meadow  root  and  cleavers,  a  strong  decoction, 
drunk  freely.  The  diuretic  syrup  will  usually 
afford  relief.  In  violent  paroxysms  of  pain, 
fomentations  should  be  applied  to  the  painful  part, 
of  hops  and  wormwood,  and  a  full  course  of 
medicine  given.  I  knew  an  instance  where  the 
stone  was  passed  with  the  water  while  in  the 
steam  box,  and  a  cure  immediately  effected.  I 

Persons  afflicted  with  the  gravel  or  stone,  should 
avoid  the  use  of  fermented  liquors,  such  as  cider, 
beer,  and  especially  wines,  and  all  sour  sub- 
stances ;  at  the  same  time  giving  preference  to 
soft,  instead  of  hard  water. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  ANY  INTERNAL  ORGAN  OR 
MEMBRANE. 

In  all  cases  of  internal,  local  inflammation,  the' 
great  object  to  be  accomplished  is  to  equalize  the 
circulation,  which  the  faithful  administration  of, 
full  courses  of  medicine  seldom  fails  to  accom- 
plish ;  fomentations  should  be  applied  to  the  part 
affected,  of  wormwood,  hops  and  tansy,  wet  in 
vinegar.  The  intermediate  treatment  should  be 
'the  spiced  bitters  three  times  a  day,  and  composi- 
15* 


152  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

tion  at  night,  with  the  daily  use  of  injections.  If 
costive,  take  two  of  the  pills  No.  2,  at  night.  A 
free  use  should  be  made  of  a  tea  of  slippery  elm, 
and  milk  porridge  should  be  the  principal  article 
of  diet.  Chronic  inflammations  can  only  be  cured 
by  a  proper  regulation  of  the  diet,  exercise,  bath- 
ing, &c. 

EXTERNAL  INFLAMMATION. 

All  cases  of  external  inflammation  should  be 
bathed  often  in  weak  lye  water,  or  a  tea  of  mea- 
dow fern,  and  poulticed  with  the  elm  poultice, 
omitting  the  ginger.  If  very  violent,  the  same 
course  should  be  pursued  as  in  internal  inflamma- 
tion. 

JAUNDICE. 

This  form  of  disease  is  characterized  by  yellow- 
ness of  the  skin,  drowsiness,  pain  in  the  right 
side,  clay-colored  stools,  &c.  It  is  occasioned  by 
an  obstruction  of  the  bile  in  its  passage  through 
the  biliary  ducts  into  the  duodenum  ;  it  is  absorb- 
ed, going  into  the  circulation,  rendering  the  blood 
impure,  and  deranging  the  operations  of  all  the 
organs. 

Treatment. — The  spiced  bitters,  composition, 
and  pills  No.  2,  taken  according  to  the  directions 
under  the  head  of  each,  will  almost  invariably 
cure  jaundice.  If  they  should  fail,  two  or  three 
courses  of  medicine  should  be  taken  in  connection 
with  the  above-named  articles. 

MEASLES. 

This  form  of  disease  is  attended  with  feverish 
symptoms,  hoarseness,  vomiting,  swelling  and 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  153 

redness  of  eyes,  a  hoarse,  dry  cough,  drowsiness, 
sneezing,  and  a  thin,  watery  discharge  from  the 
eyes  and  nose.  The  tongue  is  covered  with  a 
white  coat,  and  the  breath  very  offensive.  On  the 
third  or  fourth  day,  the  eruption  makes  its  appear- 
ance about  the  face  and  forehead.  It  consists  of 
small,  red  spots,  which  run  into  each  other  and 
form  patches,  which  begin  to  disappear  in  three  or 
four  days. 

Treatment. — In  mild  cases,  all  that  is  necessary, 
is  to  give  composition,  or  saffron  and  snake-root 
tea,  to  keep  the  skin  moist,  with  an  occasional  in-J 
jection  to  open  the  bowels.  If  the  eruption  does 
not  make  its  appearance,  and  the  feverish  excite-, 
ment  continues,  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  lobe- 
lia enough  to  produce  vomiting,  and  injections 
often.  The  nettle  rash,  which  this  resembles,1 
should  be  treated  in  precisely  the  same  way. 

MUMPS. 

This  form  of  disease  comes  on  with  a  swelling, 
sometimes  on  one  and  sometimes  on  both  sides  of 
the  face  and  neck,  at  or  near  the  angle  of  the 
jaws.  The  glands  begin  to  swell  and  continue  to 
enlarge  until  the  fourth  day,  when  the  swelling 
declines,  and  in  a  few  days  is  entirely  gone. 

Some  danger  attends  this  form  of  disease  when 
the  patient  takes  cold,  transferring  the  swelling  to 
the  breasts  of  females  and  testicles  of  males. 

Treatment. — But  little  if  any  medicine  is  re- 
quired in  this  form  of  disease  unless  the  patient 
take  cold,  in  which  case  a  full  course  of  medicine 
should  be  administered,  repeated  as  often  as  the 
nature  of  the  case  requires. 


154  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

OBSTRUCTED  OR  PROFUSE  MENSTRUATION. 

These  forms  of  disease  are  characterized  by 
general  debility,  pain  in  the  head,  coldness  of  the 
extremitieSj  palpitation  of  the  heart,  &c. 

Treatment. — The  general  treatment  for  each 
of  these  forms  of  disease  should  be  precisely  the 
same,  viz. :  full  courses  of  medicine  to  remove 
the  obstruction  and  equalize  the  circulation.  In 
case  of  profuse  menstruation,  give  the  female  re- 
storative, a  tea-spoonful  three  times  a  day,  and 
inject  a  strong  tea  of  witch  hazel  into  the  vagina. 

In  obstructed  menstruation,  in  addition  to  full 
courses  of  medicine,  steam  frequently  and  admin- 
ister the  female  powders  and  pills  No.  1,  according 
to  directions. 

PARALYSIS  OR  PALSY. 

This  form  of  disease  is  characterized  by  loss  of 
sensibility  and  motion,  generally  of  the  left  side, 
but  sometimes  confined  to  a  particular  part,  as  one 
or  both  hands,  arms,  or  legs.  It  is  occasioned  by 
a  loss  of  nervous  energy,  in  consequence  of  an 
aifection  of  the  brain  or  spinal  marrow,  or  a  com- 
pression or  injury  of  the  nerves. 

Treatment. — Full  courses  of  medicine,  com- 
bined with  stimulating  liniment  applied  to  the 
part  affected,  will  seldom  fail  to  effect  a  cure.  The 
spiced  bitters,  composition,  injections,  and  pills 
No.  1,  should  be  taken  daily,  according  to 
directions,  and  the  stimulating  liniment  applied 
twice  a  day. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 
PILES. 

These  tumors  are  occasioned  by  the  passage  of 
hardened  faeces,  forcing  down  the  blood  in  the 
veins  until  the  lining  membrane  is  ruptured,  and 
the  blood  presses  out  and  forms  small  tumors ; 
and  when  these  are  ruptured,  profuse  bleeding 
sometimes  takes  place. 

Treatment. — The  best  remedy  we  have  ever 
found  for  the  piles  is  the  pile  ointment  mentioned 
in  this  work  ;  it  seldom  fails  to  relieve  ;  injections 
should  also  be  used  of  hemlock  bark  and  slippery 
elm ;  a  tea  of  mullen  should  be  drunk  freely,  and 
the  bowels  kept  open  by  using  coarse  wheat  bread, 
rye  pudding  and  ripe  fruit.  Physic  of  all  kinds 
should  be  avoided,  and  costiveness  prevented  by 
diet  and  exercise. 

PLEURISY. 

Pleurisy  is  an  inflammation  of  the  membrane  that 
lines  the  internal  surface  of  the  chest,  commonly 
affecting  the  right  side.  It  is  attended  with  acute 
lancinating  pain  in  the  side ;  hurried  and  painful 
breathing  ;  a  short,  dry  cough  ;  the  skin  dry  and 
hot ;  the  pulse  hard  and  frequent ;  and  the  tongue 
coated.  Inflammation  of  the  pleura  is  very  liable 
to  produce  adhesions  between  the  side  of  the  chest 
and  lungs ;  an  occurrence,  however,  not  productive 
of  much  danger  or  inconvenience.  But  under 
unfavorable  circumstances,  an  abscess  is  sometimes 
formed,  which  is  always  attended  with  more  or 
less  hazard  to  the  patient. 

Treatment. — Slight  attacks  will,  in  general, 
require  nothing  more  than  the  vapor  bath  and 
warming  teas;  but  in  more  violent  attacks  the 


156  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

patient  should  be  kept  under  the  influence  of 
lobelia  until  relief  is  obtained.  A  bath  of  hops 
or  a  poultice  of  lobelia  and  slippery  elm  may  be 
applied  to  the  side. 

CANKER    RASH,    PUTRID     SORE    THROAT,   AND 
SCARLET  FEVER. 

These  forms  of  disease  combined,  have  prevail- 
ed to  an  alarming  extent  in  diiferent  sections  of 
New  England,  consigning  to  the  tomb  the  fond 
hopes  of  many  a  devoted  parent.  Notwithstand- 
ing their  alarming  fatality  when  treated  by  the 
old  school  practice  of  physicing,  bleeding  and 
blistering,  they  have  been  almost  invariably  cured 
by  the  simple  remedies  of  Thomson.  The 
Thomsonian  treatment,  as  can  be  proved  by  sta- 
tistical accounts,  will  cure  ninety-nine  cases  out 
of  a  hundred  of  scarlet  fever  and  canker  rash. 

"  Thes  carlet  fever,"  says  Beach,  "  is  so  denomi- 
nated from  the  scarlet  color  and  eruptions  which 
appear  on  the  body.  It  occurs  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year,  but  generally  in  the  fall  or  beginning  of 
winter.73 

i  The  scarlet  fever  commences  with  a  chill  and 
shivering,  like  other  kinds  of  fever,  with  nausea 
and  vomiting,  great  sickness  succeeded  by  heat, 
thirst,  and  head-ache  ;  sometimes  in  a  very  mild, 
degree,  at  others  more  violent.  The  pulse  is  ac- 
celerated, the  breathing  is  frequent  or  interrupted, 
the  eyes  red,  and  the  eye-lids  swollen.  In  two  or 
three  days  the  flesh  begins  to  swell,  a  pricking 
sensation  is  experienced,  and  an  eruption  appears 
on  the  body  in  the  form  of  a  red  stain  or  blotch, 
or  rather  of  a  fiery  redness.  It  usually  appears 
first  upon  the  face,  breast  and  arms,  then  over  the 
whole  body,  of  a  uniform  red  color. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  157 

In  the  progress  of  the  disease,  one  uniform  red- 
ness, unattended,  however,  by  any  pustular  erup- 
tion, pervades  the  face,  body,  and  limbs,  which 
parts  appear  somewhat  swollen.  The  eyes  and 
nostrils  partake  likewise  more  or  less  of  the  red- 
ness, and,  in  proportion  as  the  former  have  an 
inflamed  appearance,  so  does  the  tendency  to  de- 
lirium prevail. 

Treatment. — Thorough  Thomsonian  treatment, 
judiciously  and  perseveringly  applied,  has  proved 
a  certain  cure  in  this  form  of  disease.  An  emetic 
course  should  be  given  once  or  twice  a  day,  with 
frequent  injections.  The  surface  should  be  bathed 
a  number  of  times  in  a  day  with  weak  lye.  Great 
care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  taking  cold  after 
the  patient  begins  to  recover. 

Injections  should  be  administered  once  in  four 
hours,  and  the  skin  kept  moist  with  a  free  use  of 
cayenne  and  bayberry. 

The  throat  should  be  frequently  gargled  with 
bayberry  tea,  or  cayenne  and  vinegar.  Mullen 
leaves,  wet  in  vinegar,  should  be  applied  to  the 
throat  externally,  and  the  entire  surface  frequently 
bathed  with  meadow-fern  tea. 

RHEUMATISM. 

This  form  of  disease  is  usually  occasioned  by 
checking  perspiration,  and  is  most  prevalent  when 
the  weather  is  damp  and  variable.  The  pain  is 
very  acute,  and  frequently  changes  from  one  part 
of  the  system  to  another. 

Treatment. — This  form  of  disease  yields  readily 
to  the  Thomsonian  practice.  The  patient  should 
take  three  or  four  courses  of  medicine  in  as  many 
days,  if  the  attack  is  very  violent.  The  part 
affected  should  be  bathed  with  the  stimulating 


158  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

liniment,  and  the  spiced  bitters,  composition  and 
pills  No.  1,  used  according  to  direction  until  a  cure 
is  effected.  I  have  no  doubt  cold  water,  judiciously 
applied,  will  cure  this  form  of  disease  ;  but  I  have 
never  proved  it. 

R'UPTURE  OR  HERNIA. 

This  is  a  protrusion  of  a  portion  of  the  bowels 
or  omentum,  forming  a  tumor  or  sack  under  the 
skin.  It  generally  occurs  at  the  groin  and  inner 
part  of  the  thigh.  When  the  portion  of  the 
bowels  becomes  confined  in  the  sack  by  the  con- 
traction of  the  orifice,  it  produces  alarming  effects, 
such  as  vomiting,  pain  and  stoppage  in  the  bowels, 
and  if  relief  is  not  soon  obtained,  mortification 
takes  place.  This  is  called  strangulated  hernia. 

Treatment. — The  first  object  to  be  accomplish- 
ed, is  to  replace  the  protruded  portion  of  the 
bowels,  which  may  generally  be  done  by  pressure 
with  the  fingers,  the  patient  lying  on  his  back, 
with  his  thighs  bent  upon  his  body  and  his  head 
elevated.  A  strangulated  hernia  cannot  be  return- 
ed until  the  inflammation  and  swelling  are  sub- 
dued. This  can  be  speedily  accomplished  by  a 
full  course  of  medicine,  or  lobelia  taken  in  small 
potions  until  the  system  is  sufficiently  relaxed, 
when  it  may  be  gently  returned. 

Dr.  Logan,  of  Pennsylvania,  recommends  the 
application  of  a  strong  decoction  of  white  oak 
bark  to  effect  a  permanent  cure  for  hernia. 

SCALD-HEAD. 

This  eruption  usually  commences  with  a  brown- 
ish spot  on  some  part  of  the  head ;  which  soon 
discharges  matter  so  acrid  as  to  excoriate  the  skin, 
and  spreads  so  as  sometimes  to  entirely  cover  the 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

head.  Children  are  particularly  subject  to  this 
eruption,  which  is  occasioned  by  improper  diet, 
uncleanliness,  or  contagion. 

Treatment. — It  is  necessary  to  administer  two 
or  three  courses  of  medicine  to  cleanse  the  system 
from  the  impurities  that  occasion  the  eruption. 
First  wash  the  head  two  or  three  times  a  day 
with  Castile  soap,  then  a  strong  tea  of  meadow 
fern  burs  and  leaves ;  after  which  apply  a  poultice 
composed  of  slippery  elm,  pond  lily  root,  and  bay- 
berry,  using  the  composition  tea  internally  to  favor 
perspiration.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid 
to  diet,  avoiding  butter,  tea  or  coffee. 

SCROFULA  OR  KING'S  EVIL. 

The  first  appearance  of  this  form  of  disease  is 
commonly  in  small,  round,  movable  tumors  under 
the  skin,  without  pain  or  discoloration,  generally 
in  the  neck,  behind  the  ears,  and  under  the  chin, 
which,  after  a  while,  suppurate  and  degenerate  into 
ulcers,  discharging  a  white  matter  instead  of 
healthy  pus.  It  is  occasioned  by  impure  air,  un- 
wholesome food,  the  use  of  mercury,  or  whatever 
tends  to  derange  the  health. 

Treatment. — Thorough  courses  of  medicine  are 
absolutely  necessary  in  this  form  of  disease.  Give 
three  courses  a  week,  and  steam  every  day ;  giving 
in  the  mean  time,  and  following  up  afterwards 
with  the  spiced  bitters,  composition,  and  pills  No. 
1,  according  to  directions.  Bathe  the  tumors  with 
stimulating  liniment,  if  there  is  no  inflammation 
on  the  surface ;  if  inflamed,  apply  the  elm  poul- 
tice. If  ulceration  has  taken  place,  wash  with 
Castile  soap  suds,  and  continue  the  elm  poultice 
with  the  addition  of  pond  lily  root,  until  the  dis- 
charge ceases. 
16 


160  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

The  diet  should  consist  of  coarse  wheat  bread, 
rice,  ripe  fruit,  rye  pudding,  &c.,  avoiding  all 
grease,  tea,  coffee,  and  fermented  or  distilled 
liquors  of  all  kinds.  Perseverance  is  a  very  im- 
portant requisite  in  this  as  well  as  most  other 
chronic  forms  of  disease. 

SMALL  POX. 

In  this  form  of  disease,  the  eruption  appears  at 
first  in  small  red  spots,  hardly  prominent,  but  by 
degrees  rising  into  pimples.  There  are  generally 
but  few  on  the  face ;  but  even  when  more  numer- 
ous, they  are  separate  and  distinct  from  one  an- 
other. On  the  fifth  or  sixth  day  a  small  vesicle, 
or  bladder,  containing  an  almost  colorless  fluid, 
appears  on  the  top  of  each  pimple ;  for  two  days 
these  vesicles  increase  in  breadth  only,  and  there 
is  a  small  pit  in  their  middle,  so  that  they  are  not 
raised  into  spheroidical  or  globular  pustules  or 
eruptions,  till  the  eighth  day. 

As  the  pustules  increase  in  size,  the  face  swells 
considerably,  if  they  are  numerous  on  it ;  and  the 
eyelids  particularly  are  so  much  swelled,  that  the 
eyes  are  entirely  shut.  As  the  disease  proceeds, 
the  matter  in  the  pustules  becomes,  by  degrees, 
first  more  opaque  or  cloudy,  then  white,  and  then 
at  length  assumes  a  yellowish  color.  On  the 
eleventh  day  the  swelling  of  the  face  is  abated, 
and  the  pustules  seem  quite  full.  On  the  top  of 
each  a  darker  spot  appears  j  and  at  this  place  the 
pustule,  on  the  eleventh  day  or  soon  after,  is 
spontaneously  broken,  and  a  portion  of  the  matter 
oozes  out,  in  consequence  of  which  the  pustule  is 
shrivelled,  and  subsides ;  while  the  matter  oozing 
out  dries,  and  forms  a  crust  upon  its  surface. 

Treatment. — No  disease  yields  more  readily  to 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

thorough  Thomsonian  treatment  than  small  pox. 
The  patient  should  begin  by  drinking  freely  of 
composition  and  cayenne,  after  which  a  full  course 
of  medicine  should  be  administered,  and  an  emetic 
course  with  injections  as  often  as  the  nature  of 
the  case  requires.  The  intermediate  treatment 
should  be  composition  and  raspberry  tea,  with  Cay- 
enne No.  2,  and  injections  often  administered.  The 
patient  should  be  in  a  room  where  the  air  can  be 
kept  pure,  and  should  not  be  suffered  to  change 
from  a  mild  to  a  cold  atmosphere,  without  due 
precaution.  His  diet  should  be  light,  and  chiefly 
vegetable.  If  costiveness  prevails,  injections  are 
far  preferable  to  cathartics.  This  course  of  treat- 
ment, with  careful  nursing,  will  effect  a  cure. 

SORE  OR  INFLAMED  BREAST. 

This  form  of  disease  very  commonly  attacks 
females  after  child-birth,  and  frequently  results  in 
a  broken  breast. 

Treatment. — Fomentation  of  bitter  herbs  and 
the  elm  poultice,  with  the  internal  use  of  compo- 
sition, will  usually  afford  immediate  relief.  Dr. 
Barrett,  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  recommends  the  following 
application : 

"  Take  the  kernels  of  white  oak  acorns,  either 
green  or  dry,  (they  will  keep  for  years,)  pound 
them  fine,  and  stew  them  in  hog's  lard  over  a  slow 
fire,  until  you  get  the  virtues  of  the  acorn  well 
incorporated  with  the  lard.  Add  about  lard 
enough  to  cover  them,  and  make  it  as  strong  of 
the  acorns  as  you  well  can,  then  strain  and  pre- 
serve them  for  use.  This  is  to  be  applied  with 
considerable  friction  two  or  three  times  a  day,  ac- 
cording to  symptoms,  and  a  piece  of  soft  flannel 


162  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

worn  over  the  breast.  You  may  cut  a  hole  in  the 
flannel,  so  as  to  nurse  a  child  without  removing  it. 

"  If  this  is  well  applied  before  matter  is  formed, 
it  will  not  fail  one  time  in  a  hundred  to  prevent 
the  breast  from  rising,  whether  the  child  is  or  is 
not  nursed.  It  will  soften  every  hard  place,  ease 
pain,  and  cause  the  milk  to  flow  out  naturally,  so 
that  the  breast  in  no  case  will  need  drawing." 

He  says,  "  I  have  seen  and  known  so  many 
cases,  I  speak  with  confidence." 

ST.  VITUS'  DANCE. 

This  disease  is  characterized  by  the  involuntary 
action  of  some  of  the  muscles.  The  disease  first 
affects  the  legs  by  a  kind  of  lameness,  and  the 
patient  drags  them  after  him  in  an  unusual  man- 
ner, nor  can  he  hold  his  arms  still,  but  is  constant- 
ly throwing  them  about  in  an  ungraceful  manner, 
which  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  avoid. 

Treatment. — In  the  early  stages  this  form  of 
disease  may  be  cured  by  a  free  use  of  composition 
and  valerian,  half  a  tea-spoonful  of  each  at  night, 
and  two  of  the  pills  No.  1.  If  this  does  not  cure, 
the  courses  of  medicine  must  be  resorted  to,  which 
in  combination  with  nervines  and  tonics  will  effect 
a  cure. 

SHINGLES. 

This  form  of  disease  is  characterized  by  a  clus- 
ter of  blisters  on  an  inflamed  surface,  commencing 
in  most  instances  on  the  right  side  of  the  abdo- 
men. It  is  attended  with  loss  of  appetite,  lassi- 
tude, slight  head-ache,  nausea,  more  or  less  febrile 
irritation,  together  with  scalding  heat  and  tingling 
in  the  skin,  and  shooting  pains  through  the  chest 
and  stomach, 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  163 

Treatment. — Take  composition  and  pennyroyal 
tea  freely,  and  two  of  the  pills  No.  1,  at  night  j 
and  apply  the  meadow-fern  ointment  to  the  erup- 
tion, and  it  will  generally  soon  disappear. 

SUSPENDED  ANIMATION   FROM  DROWNING. 

When  a  person  is  taken  out  of  the  water  soon 
after  drowning,  the  face  exhibits  a  turgid  and  livi<J 
appearance  ;  the  eyes  are  open  and  staring ;  the 
limbs  somewhat  stiff;  the  tongue  thrust  a  little 
beyond  the  teeth ;  and  the  epigastrium  tense  and 
tumid.  Under  favorable  circumstances,  life  may 
be  restored  even  after  the  heart  has  ceased  to  act. 

Treatment. — The  patient  should  be  taken  to  a 
suitable  place  and  rubbed  dry  with  warm  flannels, 
and  covered  warm.  The  face  should  be  turned 
somewhat  downward  to  allow  the  water  to  run 
out  of  the  mouth,  but  he  should  not  be  handled 
roughly.  An  injection  should  be  administered, 
composed  of  third  preparation,  cayenne  and  slip- 
pery elm,  and  a  table-spoonful  of  the  same  admin- 
istered at  once,  in  lukewarm  water.  No  other 
means  can  be  employed  that  are  so  well  calculated 
to  arouse  the  nervous  influence  and  excite  respira- 
tion, as  powerful  stimulants  administered  by  injec- 
tion to  the  bowels  or  introduced  into  the  stomach. 
The  injection  should  be  frequently  repeated.  Rub 
the  surface  thoroughly  in  pepper-sauce,  and  put  a 
bottle  of  hot  water  at  the  feet.  The  first  symp- 
toms that  attend  returning  animation,  are  twitch- 
ing of  the  muscles  about  the  mouth ;  soon  follow- 
ed by  efforts  to  breathe  ;  sudden  motion  of  the 
limbs  ;  a  small  and  weak  pulse,  beating  at  irregu- 
lar intervals ;  and  a  discharge  of  frothy  fluid  from 
the  mouth.  As  soon  as  the  patient  can  swallow, 
stimulants,  such  as  third  preparation  of  lobelia  or 


|£4  A  «UIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

pepper  tea,  must  be  given  in  small  doses  frequently 
repeated.  Yomiting  is  often  induced  when  anima- 
tion is  being  restored,  which  is  always  a  favorable 
symptom. 

Suspended  animation  from  the  inhalation  of 
gas  from  burning  charcoal,  or  by  lightning,  or 
fainting,  should  be  treated  as  above  directed,  if 
they  do  not  recover  after  dashing  cold  water  into 
the  face,  and  coming  to  the  air. 

TIC  DOLOUREUX. 

This  form  of  disease,  though  of  rare  occurrence, 
is  probably  the  most  painful  of  any  malady  that 
feeble  nature  has  to  contend  with ;  and  medical 
writers  generally  concur  in  opinion  that  nothing 
short  of  an  operation,  dividing  the  diseased  nerve, 
can  afford  relief.  Our  experience,  however, 
though  limited,  induces  us  to  believe  that  the 
disease  will  readily  yield  to  proper  remedies.  It 
is  characterized  by  severe  paroxysms  of  pain, 
affecting  the  nerves  of  the  face. 

Treatment. — Thorough  courses  of  medicine 
will  usually  cure  this  form  of  disease.  The  worst 
case  we  ever  saw,  was  cured  by  taking  two 
thorough  courses  in  twenty-four  hours ;  no  relief 
being  obtained  until  after  the  operation  of  the 
second  course,  when  the  patient  was  entirely  easy, 
and  has  not,  to  our  knowledge,  had  an  attack 
since. 

WOUNDS. 

Wounds  are  divided  into  incised,  or  those  done 
by  a  sharp  instrument,  lacerated  when  done  by  a 
rough  instrument,  punctured  when  done  by  a  point- 
ed instrument,  and  poisoned  or  gun-shot  wounds. 
Wounds  produced  by  a  sharp  instrument. — The 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  165 

first  object  is  to  stop  the  bleeding.  When  an 
artery  is  cut,  the  blood  is  of  a  bright  scarlet  color, 
and  gushes  from  the  blood-vessel  in  a  jet,  with 
great  force.  When  a  vein  is  cut,  the  blood  runs 
in  an  even,  unbroken  stream,  and  is  of  a  purple- 
red  color.  The  bleeding  may  be  stopped  with  a 
pledget  of  lint  rolled  up  and  pressed  directly  upon 
the  mouth  of  the  artery.  The  next  object  is  to 
cleanse  the  wound  from  all  extraneous  substances. 
The  sides  of  the  wound  should  then  be  placed 
together,  and  confined  by  narrow  strips  of  sticking 
plaster.  Over  these  strips  should  be  placed  a 
cushion  of  soft  lint ;  and  over  the  whole  a  bandage 
drawn  agreeably  tight,  and  making  equal  pressure. 
In  lacerated,  punctured,  and  gun-shot  wounds, 
inflammation  sometimes  takes  place,  requiring  a 
poultice  of  slippery  elm  mixed  with  lye-water. 
They  require  much  the  same  treatment  as  wounds 
produced  by  a  sharp  instrument,  but  are  much 
more  difficult  to  heal.  Caution  should  be  used  to 
prevent  taking  cold,  as  serious  consequences  some- 
times follow,  especially  in  punctured  wounds. 

WHITE  SWELLING. 

The  white  swelling  is  a  common  and  exceed- 
ingly painful  disorder.  It  has  been  considered 
incurable  by  the  faculty,  who  have  frequently 
resorted  to  amputation  as  the  only  remedy. 

The  knee,  ankle,  wrist,  and  elbow,  are  the  joints 
most  subject  to  white  swellings.  As  the  name 
of  the  disease  implies,  the  skin  is  not  at  all  altered 
in  color.  In  some  instances,  the  swelling  yields, 
in  a  certain  degree,  to  pressure ;  but  it  never  pits, 
and  is  almost  always  sufficiently  firm  to  make  an 
uninformed  examiner  believe  that  the  bones  con- 
tribute to^the  tumor.  The  pain  is  sometimes 


166  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH 

vehement  from  the  very  first ;  in  other  instances, 
there  is  hardly  the  least  pain  in  the  beginning  of 
the  disease.  In  the  majority  of  scrofulous  white 
swellings,  let  the  pain  be  trivial  or  violent,  it  is 
particularly  situated  in  one  part  of  the  joint,  viz., 
either  the  centre  of  the  articulation,  or  the  head 
of  the  tibia,  supposing  the  knee  affected.  In  some 
cases,  abscesses  form  a  few  months  after  the  first 
affection  of  the  joint ;  on  other  occasions,  several 
years  elapse,  and  no  suppuration  of  this  kind  makes 
its  appearance. 

Treatment. — Courses  of  medicine  are  indispen- 
sable in  this  form  of  disease.  A  thorough  course 
should  be  administered  once  a  week.  During  the 
intervals  the  knee  should  be  bathed  with  the 
stimulating  liniment,  and  poulticed  with  the  elm 
poultice  combined  with  the  sediment  of  drops  No. 
6.  Composition,  spiced  bitters,  and  pills  No.  1, 
should  be  taken  according  to  directions.  The 
diet  should  consist  of  coarse  wheat  bread,  rice, 
potatoes,  ripe  fruit,  &c.,  avoiding  butter,  meat,  tea 
and  coffee,  &c. 

WHOOPING  COUGH 

This  form  of  disease  usually  attacks  children, 
occurring  but  once  in  the  same  individual.  The 
cough  acquires  a  peculiar  shrill  and  whooping 
sound,  in  many  cases  almost  producing  suffocation. 

Treatment. — The  bowels  should  be  kept  regu- 
lar by  injections,  and  the  tincture  of  lobelia  used 
in  small  quantities,  to  keep  the  cough  loose.  The 
patient  should  be  kept  from  the  evening  air,  the 
feet  kept  warm  and  dry,  and  particular  regard  paid 
to  the  diet. 


PART   III. 


CHAPTER  I. 


MIDWIFERY. 

THERE  is  no  part  of  the  practice  of  medicine  or 
surgery,  in  which  a  reform  is  more  loudly  called 
for,  than  in  that  of  midwifery.  But  few  are  fully 
conscious  of  the  unnecessary  suffering  and  de- 
struction of  human  life,  produced  by  the  unnatural 
interference  of  male  accoucheurs.  Were  the  dic- 
tates of  nature  and  the  light  of  reason  followed, 
instead  of  the  false  theories  of  those  who  profess 
to  be  learned  and  wise,  the  homes  of  many  child- 
less parents  might  now  be  made  cheerful  by  the 
innocent  merriment  and  fond  caressing  of  their 
offspring.  We  do  not  charge  upon  the  faculty  a 
disregard  for  the  sufferings  of  the  female  sex ;  we 
know  them  to  be  as  humane,  as  benevolent  as 
others,  but  a  strong  inducement  is  held  out  to 
them  to  retain  this  practice  under  their  "  exclusive 
jurisdiction,"  when  they  must  know  that  females 
are  fully  competent  and  far  better  adapted  to  per- 
form the  office  of  midwife  than  males.  That  strong 
inducement  is  the  fee.  If  this  service  was  to  be 
done  gratuitously,  the  probability  is,  physicians 
would  soon  come  to  the  conclusion  that  their  pre- 
sence was  not  necessary  at  the  time  of  child-birth. 
No  physician  can  have  failed  to  notice  that  his 


103  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

introduction  into  the  chamber  of  parturition  pro- 
duces an  unfavorable  change  in  the  patient,  that 
frequently  is  not  entirely  overcome.  Do  they 
argue  that  females  are  not  competent  to  officiate  as 
midwives  ?  If  we  search  the  annals  of  history, 
we  shall  find  that  females  were  the  only  midwives 
until  the  seventeenth  century.  It  is  said  that  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century,  a  phy- 
sician in  Hamburgh  was  publicly  branded,  because 
he  was  induced  by  curiosity  to  be  present  at  a 
delivery,  in  female  attire.  Madame  Boivin,  the 
celebrated  lecturer  on  midwifery,  in  Paris,  has 
superintended  the  delivery  of  more  than  twenty 
thousand  women.  Many  American  women  have 
devoted  their  time  to  the  business,  with  a  success 
seldom  equalled  by  the  other  sex.  Females  who 
understand  the  Thomsonian  system,  and  have 
given  their  attention  to  the  practice  of  midwifery, 
have  seldom  met  with  any  difficulty.  My  own 
experience  and  observation  compel  me  to  believe 
that  ninety-nine  in  a  hundred  of  the  cases  that  are 
so  very  alarming  and  often  fatal  to  mother  or  child, 
would  be  comparatively  safe  and  expeditious  under 
the  management  of  such  females.  Mrs.  Whitney, 
formerly  of  Nashua,  has  attended  many  cases  with 
perfect  success  and  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 
Any  other  woman  may  be  equally  successful,  by 
obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the  medicines  and  the 
management  of  such  cases.  If  women  cannot  be 
obtained  who  will  take  the  responsibility,  let  those 
husbands  who  are  convinced  of  the  impropriety 
of  the  present  practice,  inform  themselves  upon 
the  subject,  and  attend  upon  their  own  wives. 
We  know  a  Methodist  minister  in  Maine,  who  has 
attended  upon  his  wife  with  eight  or  nine  child- 
ren, without  any  trouble,  and  we  know  of  many 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  169 

others  who  do  the  same.  We  hazard  the  asser- 
tion, unpopular  as  it  may  be,  that  the  presence  of 
a  physician  is  no  more  necessary  to  the  safe  deliv- 
ery of  ninety-nine  cases  in  a  hundred  in  child- 
birth, than  it  is  when  a  healthy  woman  is  eating 
wholesome  fruit. 

"  Females  have  been  made  to  belie ve,  says 
Dr.  Beach,  "  that  physicians  only  are  competent  to 
assist  them  in  the  hour  of  child-birth,  and  that 
midwives  are  incompetent  j  by  which,  this  branch 
of  medicine  has  been  very  unjustly  and  improperly 
wrested  from  them,  and  monopolized  by  the  fac- 
ulty. Did  females  know  the  ignorance,  the  un- 
timely and  rash  interference  with  the  unwieldy 
hands  of  doctors,  the  exposure,  the  rash  attempts 
to  accomplish  delivery,  the  injury  done  by  bleed- 
ing, minerals,  ergot,  and  instruments, — I  state,  did 
they  know  alt  this,  the  serpentine  charm  which 
now  unfortunately  deludes  them  would  be  broken, 
and  they  would  shrink  with  disgust  and  horror  at 
the  very  thought  of  employing  males  in  parturi- 
tion or  child-birth.  Nothing  but  the  grossest 
ignorance  leads  them  to  embrace  a  practice  so 
unnatural  and  revolting.  In  nearly  every  case, 
nature  is  quite  sufficient  to  expel  the  child ;  and 
when  aid  is  required,  females  are  in  every  respect 
calculated  to  render  all  the  assistance  required, 
except  perhaps  on  some  rare  or  extraordinary  cases. 
A  very  little  instruction  and  experience  will  enable 
any  sensible  female  to  become  proficient  in  this 
branch  of  medicine  ;  and  I  venture  to  affirm  that 
her  success  will  be  far  greater  than  that  of  male 
practitioners.  Iri  proof,  I  refer  to  the  practice  of 
Mrs.  Ruth  Stebbins,  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  Mrs. 
Halsey,  of  New  York,  and  hundreds  of  others, 
whose  great  success  is  ample  evidence  of  their 


170  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

skill  and  competency.  Also,  Madame  Boivin,  and 
Lachapelle,  of  France,  who  have  been  present  at 
the  delivery  of  more  than  forty  thousand  cases, 
nearly  all  of  which  terminated  favorably,  even 
without  aid ;  and  observe  also  the  great  success 
of  other  midwives  in  Germany,  Denmark,  and 
other  parts  of  the  world.  So  stupidly  or  wilfully 
blind  are  many  females,  that  they  are  ignorant 
that  nature  accomplishes  the  delivery,  and  that 
the  doctors  get  the  credit  and  the  fee,  while  the 
worthy  and  skilful  midwife  is  pronounced  igno- 
rant or  incompetent.  I  cannot  see  why  such  a 
custom,  so  recent,  unnatural,  and  novel  in  its  cha- 
racter, should  have  prevailed  and  gained  such  an 
ascendency,  except  in  the  same  manner  that  every 
other  foolish  and  absurd  fashion  prevails. 

"  I  have  practised  this  branch  of  medicine  ever 
since  I  began  my  profession  ;  but  so  fully  con- 
vinced have  I  been  that  it  is  wrong,  and  belongs 
to  the  other  sex,  that  I  have  abandoned  it  to  its 
rightful  owners,  the  female  midwives ;  and  I  am 
therefore  as  anxious  to  bring  about  a  reformation 
in  this  department  as  in  other  branches  of  medi- 
cine. I  trust  that  I  shall  have  at  least  the  enlight- 
ened portion  of  community  to  sustain  me  in  a  cause 
of  such  vital  importance  both  to  the  moral  and 
physical  well-being  of  the  female  sex.  The  tales 
that  are  told  by  designing  physicians  of  the  hair- 
breadth escape  of  numerous  women,  to  whom 
they  have  been  called  just  in  time  to  save  life, 
and  of  the  danger  of  trusting  to  females,  have  filled 
those  over  whom  they  have  an  influence  with 
awful  apprehension,  and  thereby  secured  to  them- 
selves a  branch  of  medicine  that  reason,  experi- 
ence, and  the  finer  feelings  of  the  female  sex  loudly 
proclaim,  belongs  only  to  females." 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  171 

Says  Mrs.  Arnold,  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  in  a  let- 
ter to  the  editor  of  the  Botanic  Medical  Reformer, 
"  It  (man-midwifery)  is  contrary  to  every  principle 
of  delicacy  and  refinement,  and  disgusting  to 
every  feeling  of  our  nature.  It  is  an  unheard-of 
practice  in  most  countries,  except  in  some  parts 
of  Europe  and  enlightened  America.  It  is  degrad- 
ing to  our  natures,  and  a  reproach  to  any  people 
who  submit  to  the  practice." 


CHAPTER  II. 

8ENERAL    DIRECTIONS    FOR  TREATMENT   IN  CHILD-BIRTH 

PREVIOUS  TREATMENT. — The  mother's  cordial^ 
mentioned  in  this  work,  should  be  taken  two  or 
three  weeks  previous  to  confinement.  If  costive, 
take  enough  of  the  pills  No.  1,  to  keep  the  bowels 
regular.  If  troubled  with  acidity  of  the  stomach, 
take  the  anti-dyspeptic  powder  after  eating.  Take 
half  a  tea-spoonful  of  valerian  and  as  much  com- 
position, occasionally  at  bed  time. 

TREATMENT  DURING  LABOR. — When  labor  com- 
mences, which  may  be  known  by  the  regular 
"  bearing-down  pains"  send  for  the  most  expe- 
rienced woman  in  your  vicinity  ;  if  she  will  not 
take  the  responsibility,  let  the  husband  take  it 
himself,  provided  he  or  the  woman  know  how  to 
proceed.  If  neither  know  any  thing  about  it,  get 
the  best  Thomsonian  physician  you  can  find,  and 
in  case  there  is  none  near,  get  the  regular  that 
gives  the  sick  the  least  medicine.  The  physician 
or  midwife  should  first  ascertain  whether  the 
pains  are  true  or  false.  True  pains  may  be  known 
by  their  location,  being  more  concentrated  in  the 
17 


172  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

portion  of  the  bowels,  through  the  loins  and  hip, 
returning  every  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  leaving  the 
woman  comparatively  easy  in  the  intervals. 

It  will  be  proper  for  the  midwife,  at  this  period, 
to  examine,  in  order  to  ascertain  what  part  of  the 
child  presents,  which  may  be  done  by  passing  the 
largest  finger,  dipped  in  sweet  oil  or  slippery  elm 
aucilage,  up  the  vagina,  and  the  nature  of  the 
presentation  can  be  determined.  In  ninety-nine 
cases  in  a  hundred,  the  presentation  will  be  natu- 
ral, the  head  presenting.  If  the  feet  or  breech 
presents,  the  labor  should  be  allowed  to  progress 
without  turning,  as  the  most  experienced  mid- 
wives  admit  that  more  danger  and  suffering  at- 
tends an  interference,  than  when  nature  is  left 
wndisturbed.  If  the  arm  or  shoulder  present,  the 
delivery  is  not  impossible,  but  difficult,  until  the 
infant  be  turned,  and  the  feet  brought  down  into 
the  passage. 

When  it  is  ascertained  that  the  labor  is  natural, 
or  that  there  are  no  impediments  or  obstacles, 
there  will  be  but  very  little  more  to  do  than  to 
superintend  the  person.  It  will  be  necessary  to 
give  instruction  to  the  attendants  to  have  every 
thing  required  in  readiness.  The  usual  custom  is 
to  turn  the  feather-bed  back  towards  the  head, 
and  lay  a  folded  coverlet  or  rug  upon  the  under 
bed ;  the  woman  should  lie  on  the  left  side,  near 
the  edge  of  the  bed,  with  her  feet  in  contact  with 
the  bed-post,  and  a  pillow  between  the  knees. 
The  attendants  should  be  cheerful,  not  exciting 
the  fears  of  the  woman  by  ominous  looks  or  the 
relation  of  unfavorable  cases  of  the  kind.  If  the 
pains  are  severe  and  protracted,  let  the  bed  be 
immediately  arranged,  and  all  necessary  provision 
made  for  the  birth  of  the  child.  If  labor  pro- 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

gresses  slowly,  add  a  tea-spoonful  each  of  composi- 
tion cayenne  and  valerian  to  a  pint  of  strong  rasp- 
berry leaf  tea,  and  give  in  half  cupful  doses.  If  the 
pains  continue  severe,  in  consequence  of  a  rigidity 
of  the  muscles,  and  but  little  is  accomplished  there- 
by, administer  an  injection,  composed  of  two  tea- 
spoonfuls  of  the  injection  powder,  and  give  the 
emetic  powder,  prepared  the  same  as  for  an  emetic, 
in  small  quantities,  until  the  system  becomes  re- 
laxed. Local  relaxation  may  also  be  produced  by 
applying  warm  baths  to  the  parts.  Dr.  Burns,  in 
his  work  on  Obstetrics,  remarks,  "  A  fundamental 
principle  in  midwifery  is,  that  relaxation  or  dimi- 
nution of  resistance  is  esseritial  to  an  easy  delivery  ; 
and  could  we  discover  any  agent  capable  of  effect- 
ing this  rapidly  and  safely,  we  should  have  no 
tedious  labors,  except  from  the  state  of  the  pelvis 
or  position  of  the  child."  The  agent  so  earnestly 
desired  by  Dr.  Burns,  is  found  in  the  lobelia  infla- 
ta,  which  "  rapidly  and  safely"  relaxes  the  mus- 
cular system,  without  producing  permanent  de- 
bility ;  the  use  of  which  will  render  unnecessary 
the  barbarous  steel,  so  frequently  used  by  the 
faculty  to  kill  the  unborn  child. 

In  the  last  stage  of  labor,  the  hand  may  be 
kept  near  the  parts,  to  know  the  moment  when 
the  head  of  the  child  presents,  as  some  little  assist- 
ance at  this  time  is  called  for,  to  remo've  the 
obstruction  arising  from  the  clothes,  to  support  the 
head  of  the  child  in  its  passage  and  in  the  inter- 
val of  pains,  and  keep  it  from  pitching  downward, 
and  to  detach  the  umbilical  cord  from  the  neck, 
when  found  around  it.  After  the  birth  of  the 
head,  the  pains  follow  each  other  in  quick  succes- 
sion until  the  child  is  born. 

TYING  AND  CUTTING  THE  NAVEL  STRING. — After 


174       \  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

the  birth  of  the  child,  and  all  pulsation  has  ceased 
in  the  navel  string,  it  should  be  tied  with  two 
ligatures,  one  about  an  inch,  and  the  other  two 
inches  from  the  body,  cutting  the  cord  midway 
between  the  ligatures.  The  child  should  then  be 
handed  to  the  nurse  to  be  washed  clean  and  dressed. 
MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  PLACENTA  OR  AFTER-BIRTH. 
— After  the  delivery  of  the  child,  the  mother 
should  take  some  warm  porridge,  and  be  allowed 
to  remain  quiet,  until  the  labor  pains  are  renewed, 
when  the  navel  string  may  be  gently  drawn,  and 
the  placenta  will  be  expelled.  If  it  should  be 
retained  more  than  an  hour,  administer  an  injec- 
tion the  same  as  before,  which  will  generally  pro- 
duce the  desired  effect  in  a  few  minutes.  If  the 
operation  of  the  injection  does  not  expel  it,  give 
the  emetic  powder  as  before  directed,  which  will 
increase  nature's  efforts,  and  never  fail  to  accom- 
plish the  object,  without  the  necessity  of  manual 
force. 


CHAPTER  III. 

TREATMENT    AFTER    DELIVERY. 

Soon  after  the  discharge  of  the  after-birth,  the 
mother  should  be  got  up,  her  clothes  changed,  her 
person  washed  with  warm  water  by  means  of  a 
sponge  or  cloth,  and  the  bed  properly  arranged, 
into  which  she  should  be  immediately  placed.  A 
broad  bandage  may  be  put  around  the  abdomen, 
and  a  soft  linen  or  cotton  cloth  should  be  pro- 
vided to  absorb  whatever  may  be  discharged,  and 
removed  as  often  as  necessary.  She  should  now 
take  some  warm  porridge  or  gruel,  and  be  allowed 
to  remain  quiet. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  175 

AFTER-PAINS. — These  frequently  come  on  soon 
after  the  delivery.  A  warm  brick  at  the  feet, 
composition  tea  and  nerve  powder  will  usually 
prevent  or  relieve  after-pains  in  a  few  hours.  If 
not,  administer  a  course  of  medicine. 

COSTIVENESS. — To  prevent  costiveness,  take  two 
of  the  pills  No.  1  at  night,  and  a  mild  injection 
every  morning,  for  a  few  days,  and  avoid  tea  and 
coffee,  and  fine  flour  bread.  ; 

FLOODING. — But  little  danger  need  be  appre- 
hended from  flooding,  as  it  rarely  takes  place 
when  the  work  is  left  to  nature,  with  the  aid  of 
remedies  that  act  in  harmony  with  her.  If,  from 
any  cause,  it  should  take  place,  equalize  the  cir- 
culation by  giving  lobelia  in  small  quantities  until 
vomiting  is  produced.  Put  a  warm  brick  at  the 
feet,  and  inject,  if  necessary,  per  vaginam,  a  strong 
tea  of  witch  hazel.  , 

MILK  LEG. — This  is  a  white,  elastic,  and  ex- 
quisitely sensible  swelling,  commencing  in  the  hip, 
groin,  or  back,  and  proceeding  down  only  one  leg 
at  a  time,  attended  with  heat,  pain,  and  an  inability 
to  move  the  limb,  and  great  suffering  when  moved. 
The  effect  usually  extends  to  the  other  leg,  and 
frequently  becomes  general.  To  prevent  or  cure 
this  form  of  disease,  steam  the  lower  extremities, ' 
and  bathe  in  stimulating  liniment,  give  composi- 
tion and  pills  No.  1.  If  this  does  not  remove  the 
cause,  give  a  full  course  of  medicine.  | 

SORE  NIPPLES. — This  complaint  is  exceedingly 
troublesome  to  young  mothers.   Apply  the  meadow 
fern  ointment  mentioned  in  this  work,  and  protect 
them  with  the  nipple  shields. 
17* 


176  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TREATMENT    OF    CHILDREN. 

STILL-BORN  INFANTS. — When  the  child  does  not 
show  any  signs  of  life,  after  being  completely 
discharged,  a  little  cool  water  should  be  dashed  in 
the  face,  and  along  the  spine,  and  upon  the  breast. 
If  the  sprinklings  do  not  succeed,  immerse  in 
warm  water,  and  rub  the  surface  freely ;  also  put 
a  little  Cayenne  tea  into  the  mouth  from  your 
own,  or  through  a  silver  tube.  There  is  no  harm 
in  persevering  in  the  use  of  the  means  that  have 
been  found  successful,  for  you  can  but  fail ;  and 
instances  have  been  known  of  success  after  an 
hour's  apparently  fruitless  labor. 

MECONIUM. — The  first  evacuation  from  the  bow- 
els is  called  the  meconium.  Much  uneasiness  is 
sometimes  manifested  among  nurses  lest  it  should 
not  be  discharged,  and  physic  frequently  resorted 
to.  A  little  molasses  and  water  is  all  that  is  re- 
quired, and  seldom  any  thing  to  promote  its  dis- 
charge, except  the  mother's  milk. 

FLATULENCY  OR  COLIC. — There  is  no  custom 
more  injurious  than  that  of  dosing  children  for 
every  little  appearance  of  uneasiness ;  it  deranges 
the  stomach  and  bowels,  and  leads  to  serious  diffi- 
culty. A  little  weak  composition  will  usually 
relieve  flatulence  or  colic. 

TONGUE-TIED. — Sometimes  there  is  a  thin,  white 
membrane,  extending  under  the  tongue  almost  to 
the  tip,  so  as  to  hold  the  tongue  from  projecting 
beyond  the  teeth.  This  membrane  should  be 
slightly  cut  with  a  pair  of  sharp  scissors.  If  it 
does  not  prevent  the  child  from  nursing,  it  need 
not  be  cut  until  the  child  is  a  year  old,  and  per- 
haps not  at  all. 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

RUPTURE. — Sometimes,  from  crying  or  other 
causes,  infants  are  afflicted  with  ruptures ;  when 
this  happens,  the  earliest  attention  is  required. 
The  infant  or  child  should  be  placed  in  a  recum- 
bent position  or  on  its  back,  then  press  the  tumor 
or  protruded  part  back,  make  a  compression  of 
linen,  which  has  been  previously  wet  in  a  decoc- 
tion of  oak  bark,  apply  it  over  the  rupture,  and 
secure  it  with  a  bandage.  If  this  fails  to  keep  it 
in  its  proper  situation,  apply  a  truss. 


TESTIMONY  OF  REGULAR  PHYSICIANS  IN  FAVOR  OF 
FEMALE  MIDWIVES,  AND  AGAINST  THE  INTERFE- 
RENCE OF  DOCTORS. 

Says  Dr.  Beach,  President  of  the  Reformed 
Medical  College  of  New  York,  "  Thanks  and 
blessings  have  been  poured  upon  me,  under  the 
idea  that  I  had  saved  lives  in  labor,  when  I 
had  merely  looked  on  and  admired  the  perfectly 
adequate  powers  of  Nature,  and  superintended  the 
efforts  of  her  work ;  and  it  is  Nature  that  accom- 
plishes all,  while  the  accoucheur  gets  the  credit 
of  it.  There  is  not  one  case  in  a  thousand  in 
which  you  can  do  more  than  remain  a  silent  spec- 
tator, except  to  calm  the  fears  of  the  ignorant  and 
timid  attendants.  The  mischief  and  injury  that 
is  done  by  the  untimely  interference  of  art,  is  in- 
calculable. In  pregnancy,  women  are  bled  till 
they  have  not  strength  enough  to  accomplish  de- 
livery ;  and,  when  it  takes  place,  the  forceps  or 
other  instruments  are  used,  which  often  prove  fa- 
tal to  the  mother  or  child,  or  both. 

"  Were  all  women  instructed  in  this  branch, 


|78  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

many  lives  would  be  saved.  They  ought  to  be 
instructed  in  midwifery,  and  those  who  are  of  a 
proper  turn  of  mind  should  be  well  qualified  to 
act  in  the  capacity  of  mid  wives  :  NO  MAN  SHOULD 

EVER  BE  PERMITTED  TO  ENTER  THE  APARTMENT  OF 
A  WOMAN  IN  LABOR,  EXCEPTING  IN  CONSULTATIONS 
OR  ON  EXTRAORDINARY  OCCASIONS.  THE  PRACTICE 
IS  UNNECESSARY,  UNNATURAL,  AND  WRONG." 

Dr.  Bard,  in  speaking  of  the  abominable  inter- 
ference of  doctors  under  the  pretence  of  making 
room  for  the  child  to  pass,  says,  "It  is  impos- 
sible to  censure  this  dangerous  practice  too  severe- 
ly ;  it  is  always  wrong,  nor  can  there  be  any 
period  in  labor — the  most  easy  and  natural,  the 
most  tedious  and  difficult,  the  most  regular  or  pre- 
ternatural— in  which  it  can  be  of  the  least  use  ; 
in  which  it  will  not  unavoidably  do  great  mis- 
chief :  it  will  render  an  easy  labor  painful ;  one 
which  would  be  short,  tedious  ;  and  which,  if  left 
to  nature,  would  terminate  happily,  highly  dan- 
gerous." 

Says  Dr.  McNair,  "  All  that  is  proper  to  be  done 
in  a  case  of  natural  labor,  from  its  commence- 
ment to  its  termination,  will  suggest  itself  to  any 
person  of  common  understanding ;  and  I  have 
long  labored  under  the  conviction  that  the  office 
of  attending  women  in  their  confinement  should 
be  entrusted  to  prudent  females.  There  is  not, 
according  to  my  experience  and  the  reports  of  the 
most  eminent  surgeons,  more  than  one  case  in  ten 
thousand  that  requires  the  least  assistance.  I  am 
aware,  however,  that  there  are  crafty  physicians 
who  attempt  and  often  succeed  in  causing  the  dis- 
tressed and  alarmed  female  to  believe  that  it  would 
be  altogether  impossible  for  her  to  get  over  her 
trouble  without  their  assistance ;  and  for  the  pur- 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  179 

pose  of  making  it  appear  that  their  services  are 
absolutely  necessary,  they  will  be  continually  in- 
terfering when  there  is  not  the  least  occasion  for 
it.  It  is  my  confirmed  opinion,  after  forty  years' 
practice,  that  there  would  be  much  less  danger  in 
cases  of  confinement,  if  they  were  entrusted  alto- 
gether to  females.  There  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind 
but  that  one  half  of  the  women  attended  by  these 
men,  are  delivered  before  their  proper  period ;  and 
this  is  the  reason  why  we  see  so  many  deformed 
children,  and  meet  with  so  many  females  who 
have  incurable  complaints.  If  the  business  was 
entrusted  to  aged  mid  wives,  they  would  give  more 
time,  and  nature  would  have  an  opportunity  to  do 
its  work  ,•  and  if  necessary,  advice  might  be  had 
with  more  safety." 

"  It  is  a  very  common  circumstance,"  says  Dr. 
Beach,  "  for  an  inexperienced  practitioner  to  rup- 
ture the  bladder  in  the  attempt  to  rupture  the 
membrane,  which  would  render  the  woman  mise- 
rable during  life.  I  am  acquainted  with  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  females  who  have  met  with  this  sad 
misfortune,  and  many  of  them  were  attended  by 
those  who  were  termed  our  most  successful  or  old 
experienced  physicians." 

Dr.  Rush,  speaking  of  child-bearing  among  the 
Indians,  says  that  "  Nature  is  their  only  midwife. 
Their  labors  are  short,  and  accompanied  with  but 
little  pain,  and  she  returns  in  a  few  days  to  her 
usual  employment ;  so  that  she  knows  nothing  of 
those  accidents  which  proceed  from  the  careless- 
ness or  ill  management  of  midwives  or  doctors, 
or  the  weakness  that  arises  from  a  month's  con- 
finement in  a  warm  room." 

Says  Dr.  Whitney,  "  I  pledge  myself  as  a  phy- 
sician, that  all  honest  doctors  will  tell  you  that 


1§Q  A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH. 

labor  is  the  work  of  nature ;  and  she  generally 
does  it  best  when  left  to  herself." 

Says  Dr.  Curtis,  Professor  of  the  Medical  Insti- 
tute at  Cincinnati,  speaking  of  the  use  of  instru- 
ments, the  lancet,  opium,  and  ergot  in  midwifery, 
"  Strange  to  tell,  these  and  similar  are  the  means 
which  men  have  introduced  into  the  '  art  of  aiding 
women  in  child-birth/  on  account  of  which  they 
claim  superiority  of  skill  over  the  proper  sex, 
whose  highest  ambition  was  to  watch  the  indica- 
tions of  nature,  to  aid  her  timely  and  promptly. 
Sad  change  !  when  almost  constant  wretchedness 
takes  the  place  of  rare  and  partial  inconvenience. 
I  lay  it  down  as  a  rational  position,  on  the  strength 
of  historical  testimony  as  well  as  sound  logic,  that 
women  are  as  able  as  other  animals  to  reproduce 
their  species  without  extrinsic  aid." 

Says  Dr.  Dewees,  a  popular  author  on  Midwife- 
ry, "  It  is  a  vulgar  prejudice,  that  great  and  con- 
stant benefit  can  be  derived  from  the  agency  of  an 
accoucheur,  especially  during  the  active  state  of 
pain ;  and  this  feeling  is  but  too  often  encouraged 
by  the  ignorant  and  designing,  to  the  injury  of 
the  patient,  and  to  the  disgrace  of  the  profession." 

Dr.  Blundell,  in  his  Obstetrics,  relates  a  case 
where  he  was  called  in  consultation,  after  the  sci- 
entific M.  D.  had  labored  two  days  to  eifect  the 
delivery  of  a  child.  He  says,  "  On  entering  the 
apartment,  I  saw  the  woman  lying  in  state,  with 
nurses,  accoucheur,  and  all  the  formalities  attend- 
ing a  delivery ;  one  small  point  only  was  necessary 
to  complete  the  labor,  which  was,  that  she  should 
be  pregnant ;  although  the  practitioner,  one  of  the 
omnipotent  class,  had  distinguished  the  child's 
head,  there  was  in  reality  no  child  there.  A  few 
hours  after,  the  patient  died,  and  on  examining 


A  GUIDE  TO  HEALTH.  jgj 

the  abdomen,  we  found  the  peritoneum  full  of 
water,  but  the  womb  was  unimpregnated,  and  no 
bigger  than  a  pear." 

Dr.  Ewell,  in  speaking  of  man  midwifery,  after 
thirty  years'  practice,  says,  "  I  view  the  present 
increasing  practice  of  calling  upon  men  in  ordi- 
nary births,  as  a  source  of  serious  evils  in  child- 
bearing,  as  an  imposition  upon  the  credulity  of 
women,  and  upon  the  fears  of  their  husbands ;  as 
a  means  of  sacrificing  delicacy,  and  consequently 
virtue — it  is  the  secret  history  of  adultery. "  In 
his  remarks  to  the  ladies  on  this  subject,  he  says, 
"  Away  with  your  forebodings  when  pregnant ; 
believe  the  truth,  that  in  all  human  probability 
you  will  do  perfectly  well,  that  the  most  ordinary 
woman  can  render  you  every  needful  assistance 
without  the  interference  of  doctors.  Their  hurry, 
their  spirit  for  acting,  have  done  the  sex  more 
harm  than  all  the  injudicious  management  of  mid- 
wives,  of  which  they  are  so  fond  of  talking.  This 
Dr.  Denman,  Dr.  Buchan5  and  many  other  really 
great  physicians,  have  long  since  remarked." 

In  view  of  the  facts  here  presented,  coming 
from  the  highest  authority,  who  that  has  candidly 
considered  the  subject,  does  not  feel  a  spirit  of 
indignation  against  a  class  of  men  who  should  thus 
dupe  and  deceive  confiding  and  suffering  females  ? 
Let  light  on  this  subject  be  diffused  among  the 
fair  sex,  and  an  eternal  veto  will  be  put  upon  the 
practice  of  male  midwives.  "  Even  so  let  it  be.11 


Milford  Thomsonian  Depot. 


JOHN   BURNS, 

AT  HIS  ESTABLISHMENT  IN 

MILFORD,    IV.    H., 

KEEPS  CONSTANTLY  ON  HAND  FOR  SALE  AN  EXTENSIVE  STOCK 
OF 

GENUINE 
TIIOMSONIAIV    IVIEDICIIYES, 

AMONG    WHICH   ARE    THE    FOLLOWING,  VIZ  : — 


Cayenne, 
Green  Lobelia, 
Brown      do. 
Nerve  Powder, 
Golden  Seal, 
Ginger, 
Slippery  Elm, 
Poplar  Bark, 
Fine  Bayberry, 
Coarse     do. 
Unicorn  root, 
Bethroot, 
Balmony, 
Scnllcap, 

Also, 


Composition, 
Spiced  Bitters, 
Female  Restorative, 
Strengthening  Plaster, 
Cancer  Plaster, 
Meadow-fern  Ointment, 
Stimulating  Liniment, 
Head-ache  Snuff, 
Healing  Salve, 
Anti-Dyspeptic  Bread, 
Cough  Powder  and  Drops, 
Wine  Bitters 
Hot  Drops, 
Nerve  Ointment,  &c. 


Various  kinds  of  Syrups, 


Nearly  every  article  used  in  the  Botanic  practice  may  be 
found  at  this  establishment,  warranted  pure  and  free  from 
adulteration. 

The  proprietor  of  this  establishment  will  take  any  of  the 
roots,  barks  and  herbs  mentioned  in  this  work,  in  a  crude  state, 
in  exchange  for  compounds  or  prepared  medicines. 


att 


I 


KI 
BPlri 


